The way the ones in power stay in power is to ensure that those beneath them stay beneath them. I believe tgere is fear amongst the "big men" that decentralised systems would cripple their monopoly on power and wealth.

Money being laundered daily around the world with the current banking systems and fiat currencies by these same men who cry foul "that blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies aids money launderers."
In my country Nigeria,there is still relative freedom on the issue of cryptocurrencies.