The Mystical and Cultish World of Cryptocurrency
The cryptocurrency sector has taken on a religious fervor, with its own figures and fervent followers. The mysterious identity of bitcoin’s founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, has turned him into a mythical figure, more spiritual force than human. Even figures like Roger Ver, Bitcoin Cash’s greatest promoter, openly refers to himself as “Bitcoin Jesus”. Stickers of Vitalik Buterin, a major figure in Ethereum, depict the Russian-Canadian whizkid under a radiant halo, adding to the mystique.
Dogmatic proclamations and evangelists push bold prophecies on Crypto Twitter, akin to modern-day missionaries spreading the gospel of various tokens in hopes to convert more people to using their cryptocurrencies. Matt Liston, a crypto artist and entrepreneur, has even called bitcoin the first “purely capitalist religion.”
According to Amber Baldet, former head of JP Morgan’s blockchain project Quorom and CEO of crypto startup Clovyr, there is something about cryptocurrency that ignites a mystical fervor more than your typical capitalist venture. She believes it takes a certain amount of irrationality and dogmatism to believe in the potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
Cryptocurrency is not the only technology to have given rise to a cult-like following. In November 2017, former Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski launched the Way of the Future (WOTF), a church in which AI “will effectively be a god”. WOTF aims at democratizing participation in the AI-based project, attracting specialists and laymen alike to the fold.
The Church of Perpetual Life, known as “the only supplemental science-based church in the world,” is another manifestation of the convergence of technology and religion. The project’s mission states that they “hold faith in the technologies and discoveries of humanity to end aging and defeat involuntary death within our lifetime”.
Matt Liston, a crypto artist and entrepreneur, believes that in today’s secular culture, religion may have been replaced by capitalism and consumerism. He views the cryptocurrency movement, including projects like 0xΩ, as a commentary on this shift, although not a direct critique.
In summary, the realm of cryptocurrency has taken on an almost religious fervor, with its own mythical figures, dogmatic followers, and evangelists pushing bold prophecies. The movement has garnered a cult-like following, with various projects and technologies inspiring fervent belief and devotion among its followers.
I have been featured in numerous publications, both online and offline, and am a regular speaker at industry events. I am also the founder of Crypto University, an online educational platform that helps people learn about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In addition to my writing and teaching career, I am also an active investor in the cryptocurrency space. I have made investments in some of the leading projects in the space, and my portfolio has outperformed the market by a wide margin