Crypto and Politics have started to go hand in hand as the crypto community rallies behind pro-crypto politicians. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum I recently had something to say about this growing trend and why it is contrary to the values of the crypto industry.
Cryptocurrency is more than just money
In his article Opposing support for “pro-crypto” politicians, Vitalik noted that crypto is more than money and that the crypto community should not rally behind a politician because they support people’s right to hold and spend these tokens. He gave an insight into why crypto was created in the first place to show that these politicians does not necessarily support the main ideologies underlying the crypto industry.
Vitalik explained that the cypherpunk movement was what “originally created cryptography.” He described the movement as a “much broader techno-libertarian ethic that advocated for free and open technology as a means to protect and enhance individual freedoms in general.” The Ethereum co-founder further noted that money as an important sphere of cryptography came later through Bitcoin, which was used as a simple means of online payment.
He revealed that Bitcoin was being used to pay artists for their works without relying on restrictive copyright laws. Vitalik established that the foundation of cryptography is “freedom” and highlighted several important spheres of cryptography, including “freedom and privacy of communications,” “freedom and privacy of data.” Numeric identity“freedom and confidentiality of thought” and “quality access to information, among others.”
He said that anyone interested in cryptocurrencies should not just defend “cryptocurrencies as cryptocurrencies,” but all the underlying goals. This is where the support against politicians comes in, because he does not believe that politicians can align their views on what cryptocurrency actually represents.
To further drive home his point, Vitalik pointed out that current “pro-crypto” initiatives have so far focused on the monetary aspect with US bills like the “Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act.” (FIT21) focused on the use of cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, none have addressed other issues that cryptocurrencies defend.
Ask the right questions
Vitalik mentioned that what is important is to ask whether a politician is there for the right reasons whenever he claims he is.pro-crypto.” He noted that everyone in the crypto world should question whether or not these politicians have a vision for how technology, politics and economics should evolve in the 21st century that aligns with their own.
He also asked members of the crypto community to question whether or not these politicians have a “good positive vision“which goes beyond their short-term concerns such as bringing other countries or tribes under their control. According to VitalikIt is okay to support them if they share these beliefs. Otherwise, he urged members of the crypto community to stay completely away from politics or find “better forces to align with.”
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart by Tradingview.com
