Consider the example of a single mother living in Detroit who is having a tough time juggling her finances. Her community has been ground zero for predatory lending that has devastated families and put them on a hamster wheel of debt. Envision a community-run DAO giving out microloans at reasonable interest rates. This new, creative approach would enable her to launch a food truck business without having to go through the big banks. This isn’t science fiction — it’s the promised potential of blockchain, if we mold it with intentional progressive values.
The reality is that crypto is at an inflection point. Unfortunately, while conservatives are busy laying its infrastructure, progressives have mostly been left on the bench. We can’t afford to just sit back and criticize the show from across the street. The future is being built now, and if we don't get involved, we risk ceding control to those who don't share our vision of a just and equitable world. Think of it like this: remember the early days of the internet? Movement unionists and environmentalists were reluctant to punch above their weight. Because of this, early adopters, who today have very different values, largely dictated its path. We can't let that happen again. Now is our moment to take back the narrative and create a crypto future that embodies the values we all care about.
DAOs — Decentralized Autonomous Organizations — are, at heart, internet-born co-ops. Through their flexibility, they allow communities of all shapes and sizes to pool limited resources and make meaningful decisions collectively. Here's the rub: not all DAOs are created equal. Many of them are motivated by profit, just as much as the systems we’re seeking to repair. We can’t just ask the question, though—we have to put money into DAOs that are built on equity from the beginning.
Consider DAOs that aim to fund public goods, such as Gitcoin. They’re already showing tremendous promise about the power of decentralized funding for truly meritocratic projects that benefit all of us. Now, picture this same set of DAOs focused on building affordable housing, financing local green projects, or promoting marginalized artists. These are exactly the types of projects we need to be fighting for. It’s time we stop defining “investment” by the dollars alone. Rather, let’s celebrate it as the start of a commitment to prioritize the building of the better future we need. Learn about these DAOs, invest your time, your talent, and your crypto. Give lots of money to the projects that most match your goals as a community.
Make no mistake, government is slow, bureaucratic and usually hostile to innovative solutions that better meet the needs of its citizens. Blockchain can be that antidote, but only if we’re smart about how we introduce it. Working with our cities and municipalities on effective pilots is a key component.
Think about it: blockchain could revolutionize voting, making it more secure and transparent. For one, it would make social welfare distribution much more efficient, eliminating the intermediaries and directly providing aid to those in need. Or it might monitor affordable units of housing, stopping their owners from unlawfully increasing the rent.
None of this can come to fruition if we wait and see. We need to be in the room, advocating for these pilot projects, ensuring they are designed with equity and accessibility in mind. Call for transparency, advocate for community engagement, and keep our elected leaders accountable. Let’s show the world that blockchain is more than a passing fad. It’s a gargantuan, dynamic tool for helping us imagine and build a fairer, more efficient society. This isn’t trusting technology, it’s trusting in the technology that creates trust in our institutions.
Beyond DAOs and city partnerships, there's a whole ecosystem of real-world experiments using blockchain to address social and environmental problems. These types of projects tend to be under-the-radar and under-loved, but they’re what’s on the leading edge of progressive crypto.
Or think about the projects that are deploying blockchain technology to provide emissions and carbon footprint tracking that penalizes companies for their damage to the environment. Or those who are checking supply chains, ensuring we have no child labor, no forced labor, paying people a decent wage. Or heck, even those delivering microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries as a means to empower them to generate the wealth necessary to lift themselves out of poverty.
These projects need our support. Donate, volunteer, spread the word. Let’s build that virtuous cycle, so that promising, innovative solutions to near-term needs get identified, rewarded and amplified. THESE AREAS ARE WHERE THE UNEXPECTED CONNECTIONS REALLY SHINE. We believe the same technology that powers Bitcoin can help us build a more sustainable and equitable world. Now it’s up to us to make that vision a reality.
The right is already using crypto to reverse the distribution of power, funding alt-right campaigns and bending regulations in their favor. We can’t forget the financial edge they enjoyed during the 2022 midterm elections, fueled in part by crypto contributions. Their vision would do harm to equality of opportunity and democratic norms.
Now is the moment to set aside cynical skepticism and recognize how the benefits of blockchain could outweigh the negatives. It’s long overdue to stop allowing the mentality of fear and risk aversion be our chosen guidance. Together we can make a better future for crypto! Together, we can continue to ensure that it serves our values of equity, justice and sustainability. Ultimately, this isn’t a conversation about technology, it’s a conversation about the power. And if we don’t seize the opportunity and stakes are high, we could lose all of it, including our existing progress.
The future of crypto is not predetermined. The key here is that it’s a blank canvas, waiting to be filled in. Let’s load up our brushes and paint a collective canvas of progressive innovation. The time to act is now.
The right is already leveraging crypto to reshape power, funding campaigns and influencing regulations. We can’t ignore the financial advantage they held in the 2022 midterm elections, powered in part by crypto contributions. Their vision risks exacerbating inequality and undermining democratic values.
It's time to move beyond skepticism and embrace the potential of blockchain for good. It's time to stop letting fear and risk aversion dictate our actions. It's time to actively shape the future of crypto, ensuring that it reflects our values of equity, justice, and sustainability. This isn't just about technology; it's about power. And if we don't claim our share, we risk losing it altogether.
The future of crypto is not predetermined. It's a blank canvas, waiting to be painted. Let's pick up our brushes and create a masterpiece of progressive innovation. The time to act is now.
