[Discussion] Cryptocurrency

So NFT's have been the talk of the internet recently and Bitcoin just hit $60K, so I figure I might as well start a thread about Crypto.

My take, in short: Do I think it'll do any of the amazing, world-changing things the advocates say it will?

No. I fully expect it to exacerbate already existing inequalities, and that is before we discuss its environmental impact. (Advocates argue greener methods of mining are coming, but I agree with the counter-argument that we really can't afford any "it'll get better!" stuff as acute as the problem is right now, assuming you believe that greener methods are coming at all.)

Nevertheless, I also think that crypto is, at this point, inevitable, so I can't really get that angry at anyone taking part. Life is full of things I wish would not happen or come to pass inevitably happening or coming to pass.

This is before we begin discussing its current impact on the arts, all of which just feels, as one tweet put it, "Rotten, absurd and kafkaesque."

But it is here, and it's not going anywhere soon.