Cryptocurrencies (“Crypto”) are meant to exist in a neutral haven: Satoshi Nakamoto expressly designed Bitcoin to allow peer-to-peer interactions outside of existing regulatory and political frameworks. (Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin.org). Though Bitcoin and other Cryptos remain apolitical tools, the intersection of theory with harsh reality has led to Crypto’s increasing politicization. For example, consider the statement of Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder: “Ethereum is neutral, but I am not.” (Lionel Laurent, Bloomberg). Buterin’s statement was made in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and illustrates a new, fundamental truth: Crypto cannot remain neutral and apolitical in the future…

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