What is Crypto Really?

Is it about blockchain technology transforming tech to the next level beyond the internet?

Or about crypto that secures the blockchain transforming transactional currency beyond fiat?

Or about crypto transforming investment markets like commodities and stocks?

Or is the transformation in the deeper integration of technological solutions and currency than we've ever experienced before?

Or is it the decentralized destruction of the 3rd party arbiter of official truth?

Or in the exposure of the values system that secretly lies behind the money we already use, and awakening to the idea that there might be alternative measures of value that we align with more than corporate or military dominance?

Or maybe the way it allows for untraceable transactions, so that there is both privacy beyond the reach of governments AND radical transparency that is virtually impervious to corruption?

Or is it simply a hot speculative market in which lots of money can be made?

I shared this originally with @byrondallen on his post I Hate When Banks Do This!! and then when I was interviewed about cryptocurrency this morning, these ideas were top of my mind.

I think it is good to introduce people to the idea of crypto in this broad way, rather than making it all about "moons" and "lambos." So many people have the idea that that is all crypto is, because people are always talking about the price appreciation potential of a speculative market. That is one aspect, but clearly there is far more potential here. And I would say that potential is far more valuable to our overall lives than mere profit in our private bank accounts.

Crypto Potential

I mentioned previously that each crypto project can decide what mission is behind it's project. It essentially sets the system of value for that currency. I would argue that the little acknowledged value system behind the US dollar, for example, is military might to enforce global corporate access to exploitation of resources without having to fairly compensate the people to whom those resources belong. Our dollar is backed by nothing but a promise and a powerful military that will invade your country and kill your people if you do anything to threaten its dominance.

Now I don't know about you, but it's not hard for me to come up with a system of values I like better than that one.

Take for example AIDCoin, which places a value on accountability in non-profit/NGO spending of donations and uses the blockchain for complete transparency.

Or let's consider the example of Substratum (SUB), which places a value on access to the internet that governments can't disrupt.

Or how about Omisego, which aims to "unbank the banked" so that the system of financial exploitation that so divides the world becomes less and less powerful, or even necessary.

Or maybe content sharing platforms that put a value on quality content creation, so much so that it's worked out a way that "quality" can be decided by other content creators, and then rewarded with more of the currency. Yes, that would be STEEM, with it's apps like Steemit, DTube, DLive, UtopianIO, and more.

I could go on and on like this. Though many people stop at considering just one or two of the many benefits crypto can bring to the world, there are so many things it can accomplish that go beyond mere personal profit. But then there is also personal profit, because we too need to secure access to basic necessities, and hopefully true thriving. It isn't either or. We can have prosperity for ourselves, and also generate that wealth by investing in projects that improve life for all.

Crypto brings us new possibilities for how we can live together more productively and with more fairness, opportunity, and enjoyment for huge numbers of people. Ultimately, our quality of life comes down to the quality of the experience of life on this planet in general.

Do you really want to be that rich person in jewels stepping over beggars on the street?

Do you want to HAVE to live in a walled compound with armed guards just to keep your hoard of valuables while the world starves outside those walls?

Do you want to become a prisoner of your wealth within a world that is begging for basic decency?

And then there are shared resources like clean air, clean water, widespread healthcare that lowers the chances of epidemics massively, improved education to allow more incredible works of creativity to come forth from every corner of the globe to bless us all in only the way their unique perspective can, and so much more!

Crypto is revolutionary in so many ways, that I think it is impossible to say at this juncture what it is primarily going to be known for. It is definitely going to do all those things to some extent.

So what is crypto?

Well tell me, what would you like crypto to be for you?

(Photo source: Pixabay)

Other articles of mine you may like if you liked this one:

• Cryptocurrency, Values, Mission and Earning One’s Keep
• How to Pick Cryptocurrency You'll Be Happy to HODL
• Want to HODL your crypto AND spend the cash? nexo2018
• Want crypto without having to pay for it? Here are a few ways

Resteems always appreciated!