currencies are intermediaries.

No one says I want more currency (dollar, euro, gold, ...).

They want what that currency allows them to have/do.

In the end all it boils down to is the ability to exchange, to trade. 

We're still in a peer to peer exchange economic system

The biggest risk in any economic system is the loss of the ability to exchange. 

you may consider inflation ( the rapid loss of perceived exchange value of a medium ) to be the biggest risk, though it's mitigation is to simply exchange for a medium that doesn't suffer right now.

The biggest risk is the inability to act. Loosing the ability to exchange overall. Meaning the exchange system to halt! 

There is no value in something you aren't able to exchange.