Vitalik Buterin urges the Crypto community to look beyond the pro-crypto stance into political support

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has advised against basing political support solely on a candidate’s pro-crypto views.

He emphasized the importance of broader values ​​such as individual freedoms and technological advancement, and warned that a narrow focus on cryptocurrency could undermine the principles that inspired the industry’s movement.

Broader perspective

Buterin emphasized that the current trend of supporting politicians solely because of their pro-crypto positions is short-sighted. He noted that political views can change over time, and a politician who seems friendly to cryptocurrencies today may not hold the same views in the future.

To gauge a candidate’s genuine commitment to cryptography, Buterin suggests examining their historical stance on related issues, such as encrypted messaging. This, he argues, provides insight into their likely future positions on technology and freedom.

Buterin said: “By publicly supporting ‘pro-crypto’ candidates solely because of their position on crypto, you create an incentive for politicians to pretend to support crypto without actually aligning with their core values.”

Buterin urged the community to scrutinize whether pro-crypto politicians truly support the values ​​of the movement. Do they have a long-term vision of technology and economics that aligns with the principles of cryptography? If not, Buterin suggests avoiding political support or looking for better-aligned candidates.

Freedoms and Technological Advancement

Vitalik Buterin has warned that basing political support solely on a candidate’s pro-crypto stance risks betraying the core values ​​of the entire movement. He emphasized that the industry is more than just cryptocurrency and blockchains, stating that its roots lie in the cypherpunk ethos of the early 2000s, which championed free and open technology to protect individual liberties.

This movement initially fought against restrictive copyright laws supported by corporate interests, with decentralization as a key defense mechanism.

Bitcoin, an extension of the cypherpunk spirit, provided a decentralized means of financial transactions. However, Buterin noted that the emphasis on payment freedom as central to all other freedoms came later, often to justify the financial focus of the crypto space.

Buterin emphasized that technological freedoms go beyond cryptocurrency. He highlighted the importance of freedom and privacy of communication, emphasizing encrypted messaging and pseudonymity, with zero-knowledge proofs playing a crucial role. He also noted the importance of privacy-friendly digital identity, noting that while blockchain applications can help, traditional cryptographic methods are often more practical.

As AI interactions deepen, he emphasized the growing importance of protecting the thoughts of centralized AI companies. He argued for high-quality access to information through social technologies that promote informed opinions in conflictual environments.

Buterin criticized current pro-crypto initiatives for neglecting these broader freedoms, noting that platforms like StandWithCrypto focus exclusively on cryptocurrency-related legislation without addressing other crucial freedoms related to crypto and technology.

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