In both cases, it's mostly just rich people getting richer. Capitalist exploitation and plunder as usual, but with a new spirit for the times. The technology is rather secondary in a lot of ways. I agree that the technology is arguly, actively harmful. And we haven't even got into the number one critique of bitcoin, his that the environmental and e electrical requirements are huge and only growing. So i think what you really have is something like what edy described: an economic actor invested with almost no social support or financial support from any kind of backer. Or if your account goes under because you don't have any insurance, which is also called 'frivolity'
Edward Ongweso Jr. and Jacob Silverman on cryptocurrency, NFTs, Elon Musk, the metaverse, meme stocks, and techno-utopianism amid the crushing reality of our neoliberal hellscape. The first in a two-episode series on crypto.
Read Dan's new essay on border control politics: nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/border-crises/
Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig