Cryptological Collapse
2026-05-05
Okay, I've gotta talk about the damn Bitcoin thing.
I was out at dinner with a friend last night and he was expressing curiosity toward it. Some guy at work was raving about it and how it's the future of the economy or whatever kind of Web3 esoteric bullshit is trending on Paragraph right now. A lot of people try to look at crypto the same way as gold; it's an investment one makes that will appreciate at a rate more stable than whatever index fund Blackrock and the like are pushing these days. But given the general sentiments of the people behind the movement, the bet they're really making is more drastic and insane than that. The US government holds the keys to the kingdom as the world's reserve currency. Every country has American dollars in their treasuries, and it acts as the de facto means of exchange for international trade. Cryptocurrency is a bet on a decentralized monetary system, one where there is no central authority like a treasury that has the means to print it. Investing in something like Bitcoin—even beyond the financial gain people were seeing several years ago—isn't an investment in the future of monetary policy.
Sure, we can say that "free" markets trend toward conglomeration and monopolies; the problems of centralization would just make themselves apparent again in the face of a truly decentralized currency, but at this point the discussion is purely theoretical. In practice, cryptocurrency acts as a means of exchange for unregulated (illegal) markets with no binding to any kind of governance or measure of accountability. The invisible hand isn't so much invisible as it is obscured. The hands are there, but they just prefer to hide behind layers of obfuscation and tell you the market is "invisible." In that sense, the market isn't "free" because it enables bottom-up movement; it gives those with power a better grasp in consolidating their resources. Yeah, Wall Street sucks, but the Annual Toledo Crypto Bros Conference wouldn't be any better, realistically.
A bet placed in cryptocurrency is a bet on the collapse of the US government, which some would gladly take part in despite their ignorance about the necessities of a well-regulated economy. As an American citizen, betting on my country's economic and social collapse just seems kind of, I don't know, stupid? Debt sucks. Asset conglomeration and corporate obfuscation suck. Leveraging to the tits does not sound like a good time, but the leaders in power here in the US have the game laid out in such a way that my individual contribution can't meaningfully change the way all of that stuff works. Begrudgingly or not, it's better to trust in their governance than to bet on its collapse. Yeah, seeing rich people bust out the yacht at the fancy event while people starve despite the availability of food is fundamentally disgusting, but do we really need to tear it all down about it? Really? Maybe it'll happen inevitably, but until then I'd prefer to have the comforts of peace where I can.
My car broke down yesterday. It's in the shop right now, and thankfully my friend was able to pick me up from the dealership after getting it towed there so we could get dinner. I was stressed out about it at first; while driving on the highway, I couldn't get it up to highway speeds and the engine would rev super hard when I gave it gas, so I knew a breakdown was imminent and was able to pull into a gas station, make some phone calls, and get home safely. I was thankful despite the stress to remain cool and collected and spent a good chunk of my evening hanging out in the gas station parking lot waiting for the tow truck. Even though it was a shitty situation, I figured out a way to make the best of it. That's something I'm thankful for, even in the face of America's potential hegemonic collapse.
Instead of congratulating myself on being so strong, the glory goes to God. I can't lean on my own understanding in the face of stressful life events, and when I try, it makes me implode. Let me get a little bit literary on you if I may: the idea of America's hegemonic collapse is metaphorical of my own implosion. Breathtaking genius there, I know, but the times really do make the man. A lot of dudes have this sentiment where they tell themselves "Ah, I should've been born like two hundred years ago." A lot of them are blue-collar types, which I can sympathize with, but as a dainty white-collar burnout, I do not feel that way at all. I don't think I could've so much as ridden a horse, let alone shot a gun or anything super hands-on. I'm uncoordinated, clumsy, and sensitive. I work in words and ideas, and the tangible stuff makes me feel like a total loser idiot. Of course, the times make the man, though, right? And in the age of computerized monetary policy and dreams of solarpunk techno-utopia, I have no desire to think about what life would've been like two hundred years ago. If infinitesimal stressors give me a full-scale meltdown, I couldn't imagine what the forefathers went through.
Our battles are less bound to the environment, but we still have ourselves and the spirits to contend with. When I look at my fellow man, I wish for no enemies—no collapse, no restructuring, no petty bickering or resentment. I just want people to feel loved in a way they can understand and appreciate. I have no qualms with anyone who lives a different truth from me; there are an infinite number of paths to see God, and we must walk all of them to even begin being ready. Wrestling with truth, identity, status, or whatever else generates conflict is in and of itself all a part of the Lord's good and perfect plan. Outside of evil, self-blame, and regret comes a true chance to change our minds—to repent. I have no idea what lies beyond the confines of this blue trapped bubble, but even in the face of its internal collapse, I know that perseverance is assured.
Maybe one day, we'll look back at it and have a nice laugh.
Bitcoin address: bc1qtgqvj6qjxnaxkns20x5rcwnxvv3jqzhduvvxfc