The Rise of Cryptocurrency as a Modern-Day Religion
Cryptocurrency, a modern technological innovation, has taken on the characteristics of religiosity in recent years. From the mysterious founder of bitcoin to the fervent evangelism of crypto investors, the parallels to traditional religious practices are striking. Let’s take a closer look at the ways in which cryptocurrency has evolved into a modern-day religion.
The Mystique of Cryptocurrency Figures
The founder of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, has become a mythic figure in the cryptocurrency world. His mysterious identity has turned him into more of a spiritual force than a human being. Similarly, figures such as Roger Ver, also known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” and Vitalik Buterin, a major figure in Ethereum, are celebrated in a way that is reminiscent of religious adoration. These individuals are seen as leaders and visionaries by their followers, who are eager to spread the gospel of their preferred cryptocurrencies.
Crypto Twitter and the Culture of Evangelism
Crypto Twitter is rife with dogmatic proclamations, inter-token heresy, and evangelists pushing bold prophecies. These modern-day missionaries of cryptocurrency are intent on converting more people to using their preferred tokens. This evangelistic fervor has led some to label bitcoin as the first “purely capitalist religion.” According to some, the widespread consumerism that permeates our secular culture has been replaced by a fervent belief in the potential of cryptocurrency to revolutionize the world.
The Mysterious and Dogmatic Nature of Cryptocurrency
Amber Baldet, former head of JP Morgan’s blockchain project Quorom and current CEO of crypto startup Clovyr, suggests that there is something about cryptocurrency that sparks a mystical fervor more than your typical capitalist venture. She believes that it takes a certain amount of irrationality to believe in the potential of cryptocurrency to transform the world, as well as a dogmatic determination to hold fast to that belief in the face of skepticism. This combination of factors has led many to view blockchain and crypto communities as resembling cults.
Cryptocurrency Isn’t the Only Technological Innovation to Birth a Cult
It’s not just cryptocurrency that has given rise to a cult-like following. In November 2017, former Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski launched the Way of the Future (WOTF), a church that venerates artificial intelligence as a god. This church aims to democratize participation in AI-based projects, attracting specialists in the field as well as laymen. Similarly, the Church of Perpetual Life, a science-based church, holds faith in the technologies and discoveries of humanity to end aging and defeat involuntary death within our lifetime.
In Conclusion
The rise of cryptocurrency as a modern-day religion is a fascinating phenomenon. As the fervor and evangelism surrounding cryptocurrency continue to grow, it’s clear that this emerging technology has taken on the characteristics of religiosity, attracting devoted followers and parallel societal systems.
