A Brief History of Credit Cards (or What Happens When You Swipe)

What actually happens when you swipe your credit card? a16z general partner Alex Rampellhelps solve the mystery, taking us from the beginning ofthe credit card revolution (including its hometown of Fresno, California) and on the journey of how both information and money travel, through the five parties involved in every credit card transaction.

credits: historical footage courtesy of the Prelinger Archives and the Internet Archive; music by William Ryan Fitch; all trademarks are the property of their respective owners