BlockDAG's making waves. A 2,660% price surge? A $350 million presale? Those are numbers that grab attention. We should not get carried away by the excitement. Let's ask a tougher question: Who is benefitting from this growth? Crypto does have tremendous technological promise. Are they truly building a more inclusive financial system, or are they simply putting a new coat of paint on top of entrenched power dynamics?
Crypto's Promise: A New Dawn?
After all, for years we’ve been told that crypto is the great democratizer. It holds the potential to remove longstanding roadblocks to financial inclusion. BlockDAG, for its speed and scalability, might just be the missing piece of that puzzle. So too with Cardano (ADA), in its valuable, slow and steady path forward, and Solana (SOL), in its white-hot developer activity. Even Dogecoin (DOGE), powered by its huge community, can create new customers with the promise of laying opportune ground to the newcomers.
Potential is just that – potential. That’s an important starting point, but it means nothing if we don’t mobilize vigorous organizing and advocacy to translate it into reality. Think about it: how many people do you know who truly understand blockchain technology? How many of them are using crypto to make their lives better? My guess is that number is much less than you imagine.
Forgotten Voices: Who Is Missing?
The uncomfortable truth is that the crypto world, for all its talk of disruption, often feels like an echo chamber. It’s largely controlled by a small pool of tech-savvy, well-connected individuals with plenty of disposable income. How is that serving the single mom that’s working two jobs just to keep food on the table? How about the immigrant now able to send money back home to their family? What about the small business owner in a developing country who can’t find the capital he needs to expand his business?
The surprising thing, these are the people who need the benefits of crypto the most. Despite their tremendous resilience, they’re the ones who are most vulnerable to predatory financial institutions and government bureaucracies stuck in the past. In turn, they’re the ones who stand to gain the most from the increased speed, security, and transparency that blockchain technology could bring.
Are we building the right solutions, ones that truly meet their needs? Otherwise are we just creating expensive playthings for our own amusement?
We have to address these structural barriers if we hope to build a more diverse and equitable crypto space.
- Access: Not everyone has a smartphone or reliable internet access.
- Literacy: Crypto can be complex and intimidating, especially for those who aren't familiar with finance or technology.
- Trust: Many people are understandably skeptical of new technologies, especially when they involve their money.
- Language: Much of the information about crypto is only available in English.
BlockDAG’s 200,000 holders and 2 million users makes it sound really cool. Raw numbers don’t paint the full picture. What are these people doing with BlockDAG? Or better yet, are they working to improve upon it and make the process more accessible and inclusive? More importantly, are they using it in order to solve real-world problems back home in their communities?
Community: The Real Game Changer
This is where community-driven governance becomes crucial. We have to raise up the voices of those who don’t normally have a seat at the table. We should all work to ensure BlockDAG’s development meets their requirements. That starts by deliberately creating space at the table for those that often don’t have a seat. It means ensuring educational materials are produced in various languages. That’s partly designing intuitive interfaces that people of all technical skill levels can use easily.
These are not just pipe dreams. These are all attainable objectives, but only if we put inclusivity first and really engage the community.
The fact is, we can't just sit back and wait for crypto to magically solve all the world's problems. It is up to us to guide its growth and development and make sure it works for all, not just the privileged few.
- Provide microloans to small businesses in developing countries.
- Facilitate secure and affordable cross-border payments for migrant workers.
- Support sustainable development initiatives in underserved communities.
The crypto space could use a lot more leaders like Miguel. We don’t need more CEOs who worship at the altar of shareholder value, profits at all costs, and technological utopia. Leaders who know that real success isn’t found on a balance sheet, but in the millions of lives impacted.
The future of crypto is not predetermined. It's up to us to shape it. Let’s ensure that turns out to be a future where everyone has the chance to be part of the new digital economy. Here’s to hoping that crypto’s expansion will be the most inclusive economic development opportunity ever. Let's not leave anyone behind. The time for action is now.
The crypto space needs more Miguel's – leaders who are not just focused on profits and technology, but also on people and social impact. Leaders who understand that true success is not measured in market capitalization, but in the number of lives improved.
So, what can you do?
- Educate yourself: Learn about the potential of crypto and the challenges of inclusivity.
- Get involved: Join the BlockDAG community (or any other crypto community) and contribute your skills and ideas.
- Speak out: Advocate for policies that promote financial inclusion and equitable access to technology.
- Support projects: Invest in projects that are actively working to make crypto more accessible and inclusive.
The future of crypto is not predetermined. It's up to us to shape it. Let's make sure that it's a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate in the new digital economy. Let's make sure that crypto's growth is truly inclusive. Let's not leave anyone behind. The time for action is now.
