And yet now these voices are silent on the authoritarianism unfolding before us. Where are their defenses of the Constitution when the president claims Pretti’s lawful gun ownership justified his killing,6 or when ICE leaders tell subordinates to enter homes without warrants?7 Where are their warnings about surveillance states now that ICE is photographing protesters for their “domestic terrorist” lists and Palantir is contracted by the government to build databases of people living in the US they can target for raids?8 In 2022, they were incensed when Canadian authorities froze bank accounts belonging to truckers protesting vaccine mandates (and delighted for the opportunity to promote crypto as an alternative funding mechanism) — but now, when ICE agents murder bystanders and invent pretexts that footage shows are false, where is the righteous outcry against state violence towards those exercising their right to protest?
And yet now these voices are silent on the authoritarianism unfolding before us. Where are their defenses of the Constitution when the president claims Pretti’s lawful gun ownership justified his killing,6 or when ICE leaders tell subordinates to enter homes without warrants?7 Where are their warnings about surveillance states now that ICE is photographing protesters for their “domestic terrorist” lists and Palantir is contracted by the government to build databases of people living in the US they can target for raids?8 In 2022, they were incensed when Canadian authorities froze bank accounts belonging to truckers protesting vaccine mandates (and delighted for the opportunity to promote crypto as an alternative funding mechanism) — but now, when ICE agents murder bystanders and invent pretexts that footage shows are false, where is the righteous outcry against state violence towards those exercising their right to protest?
“We will hold governments accountable if we see bad activity, to protect your rights.” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, May 2025
“I stand for human rights and believe that evil prevails when good men do nothing.” Kraken founder and chairman Jesse Powell, February 2022
“It's also hard to believe how some people want to make justice a political issue. It’s a human rights and dignity issue.” Gemini co-founder and president Tyler Winklevoss, June 2020
“It’s interesting to see who is standing up in favor of unlimited, unaccountable, un-appeal-able, unconstitutional power wielded by unelected bureaucrats and rogue politicians.” Andreessen Horowitz general partner Marc Andreessen, December 2024
“Freedom of all kinds is worth fighting for - economic, speech, due process, etc.” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, May 202
“We will hold governments accountable if we see bad activity, to protect your rights.” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, May 2025 “I stand for human rights and believe that evil prevails when good men do nothing.” Kraken founder and chairman Jesse Powell, February 2022 “It's also hard to believe how some people want to make justice a political issue. It’s a human rights and dignity issue.” Gemini co-founder and president Tyler Winklevoss, June 2020 “It’s interesting to see who is standing up in favor of unlimited, unaccountable, un-appeal-able, unconstitutional power wielded by unelected bureaucrats and rogue politicians.” Andreessen Horowitz general partner Marc Andreessen, December 2024 “Freedom of all kinds is worth fighting for - economic, speech, due process, etc.” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, May 202
For years, crypto executives have touted cryptocurrency’s supposed anti-authoritarian and humanitarian credentials — whether to fend off regulators or convince the public that crypto has viable use cases beyond speculation. The technology is necessary and good, they claim, because it could support dissidents living under authoritarian regimes, help persecuted groups escape their oppressors, shield people from surveillance, or somehow inherently protect citizens from government overreach. Many of them spent years posting piously about the importance of due process and protection from abuses of power, or shared quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass about freedom.
For years, crypto executives have touted cryptocurrency’s supposed anti-authoritarian and humanitarian credentials — whether to fend off regulators or convince the public that crypto has viable use cases beyond speculation. The technology is necessary and good, they claim, because it could support dissidents living under authoritarian regimes, help persecuted groups escape their oppressors, shield people from surveillance, or somehow inherently protect citizens from government overreach. Many of them spent years posting piously about the importance of due process and protection from abuses of power, or shared quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass about freedom.