> Fiat currency has issues, but at least a government has the authority to conjure money out of nothing and hand it to the poor.

Maybe, but it is much more common to summon money out of nothing and give it to the rich. At least in the US this happens in the form of buying securities from entities that hold them, which from what I understand is kind of similar to proof of stake (you stake some of your currency by buying a security for a chance to get more when you sell it).