You may have entered the crypto scene recently or years ago. Maybe you were curious about ‘digital’ money or just saw a speculation opportunity. Whatever the case, getting involved with the crypto world makes one realize, after a while, that it is not (just) about the money. There are important aspects of the blockchain sphere the extend to social, political and personal dimensions. Which one is more important comes down to the individual, but it is almost certain that some of these elements is relevant to most crypto users.
One of the most obvious things is the political dimension of cryptocurrencies. There is often a libertarian vibe in the air, but that doesn’t mean that crypto moves on an one-track political mind. Many projects aim for fair (or at least fairer that fiat) distribution of wealth. Numerous charity projects provide food and water to impoverished communities. Crypto crowdfunding, while still in its first steps, is definitely set to finance an abundance of activities and creations, ranging from personal tech project to entertainment and even infrastructure building.
More importantly though, what cryptocurrencies do, is give an almost magical passageway to citizens of corrupt failing regimes. When the currency of your country inflation has a daily, or even hourly effect on the price of food, having a currency not controlled by banks and governments becomes a matter of survival.
Even if one doesn’t live in a economically collapsed state, crypto can be a backup in the chance of limitations set by the banks in using one’s own money.
Some see privacy as a political issue as well, but I would consider it more of a social and personal choice. Privacy coins coupled with anonymous drone drops can provide needed goods in places where restrictions or prices make things difficult. Again, this can become a matter of survival as well. Just imagine yourself or your children needing a medicine that costs 1000% less in a neighboring country. Of course, thing can be way more dramatic as well. You may just want to order a book, some clothes, a new cell phone, without the bank registering that. I mean, why should the bank know where you buy your books from and what book you read?
On a personal level, crypto gives back control to the individual. Lots of people have gotten used to the idea that their economic life moves through tight regulated corridors. Blockchain projects can offer the exact opposite. An wide variety of products ranging from the safest - e.g stablecoins- to medium risk and up to wildly experimental. Nowhere else will one find such cutting edge products like in the crypto sphere. Not to mention that one can easily become a producer of such products with a few clicks, as in the example of minting one’s own cryptocurrency and nfts.
Another note worthy aspect is the emergence of crypto communities online and offline. Platforms like read.cash, noise.cash, hive, torum etc connect like minded people. The most fascinating aspect of this, in my opinion, is that most people on these platforms are experimenters. People that experiment on one thing are likely to experiment and push the envelope in other areas of life too. Thus, by becoming engaged with crypto communities one can discover new dimensions in nutrition, traveling, gaming, art and so on.
In the end, crypto becomes a portal to a new way of life.
How has crypto and blockchain affected and changed your life?
Congrats on making it onto the platform!