Putting the more Orwellian and Authoritarian attributes of this Chinese implementation aside, some have speculated that a post-scarcity or near-post-scarcity society that has deflated money out of existence due to unlimited material wealth, and all physical needs being met around the world, might move to a reputation-based currency because the only scarcity left would be kindness, helpfulness, and artistic expression, and the only physical scarcity would be things like ocean and mountain views, apartment buildings with good views, or the sunny side of the building, or proximity to cultural centers, or seclusion at desireable places in the wilderness.
Kind of like Reddit "gold" from people who like or appreciate your posts. The likes you get on Facebook, but added into real-world transactions, like an art piece you made, an author, gourmet cooking not done by robot, or well.. probably not shoveling your elderly neighbor's driveway, but their robot snowblower got stuck, and they're too small/frail to move it, so you run out in boots and bathrobe to unstick it, and she zaps you $5 in internet smiley gold as thanks.
