Some thoughts on the philosophy of blockchain and epistemological corruption.
The following tweet prompted me to patch this article. Please don’t take this post as something specific to this tweet, but as an observation about the general corruption in the blockchain ecosystem.
Most blockchain projects, and the ethereum ‘ecosystem’ in particular, are in a major epistemological departure from the philosophical roots of the subject. Instead of constructing the blockchain as an opportunity for global emancipation, depolarization and dedolarization, it positions it as an apparatus to serve US global domination. This is wrong. It is a betrayal of the philosophy of blockchain.
The philosophical roots of blockchain lie in decentralization, autonomy, and the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive global economic order.
Blockchain was envisioned as a way to challenge centralized power structures — whether they be political, financial, or institutional — and to empower individuals and communities by redistributing control and fostering trustless cooperation.
However, the current trajectory of many blockchain projects, particularly within the Ethereum ‘ecosystem,’ reveals a stark deviation from these ideals. By integrating into and reinforcing the existing global financial hegemony — anchored by the dominance of the US dollar and a narrow set of centralized interests — blockchain risks becoming a tool that perpetuates, rather than disrupts, systemic inequities.
Depolarization, Dedollarization, and the Missed Opportunity
Blockchain, in its philosophical essence, should be an engine for depolarization — bridging divides between nations, communities, and ideologies by creating systems that do not depend on the traditional gatekeepers of power. It also offers a unique pathway for dedollarization by enabling multi-currency, decentralized financial systems that reduce reliance on any single nation’s economic framework. This is especially critical for countries and communities historically marginalized or exploited within the global financial order.
Yet, instead of embracing these opportunities, we see blockchain projects increasingly catering to the interests of venture capital, centralized financial institutions, and Western technological monopolies. The proliferation of dollar-backed stablecoins, the reliance on Ethereum’s infrastructure as a de facto monopoly for decentralized applications, and the partnerships with US-based institutions are clear indicators of this drift. These actions tether the blockchain ecosystem to the very systems it was designed to transcend.
A Call for Course Correction
This trend is not merely a strategic or technical misstep — it is a philosophical betrayal. The blockchain community must critically reflect on whether its current direction serves the broader vision of liberation or merely fortifies existing power dynamics.
True blockchain innovation should focus on:
Localized solutions: Empowering communities worldwide to develop systems tailored to their needs, reducing dependence on external economic models.
Open access and interoperability: Avoiding monopolistic ecosystems by fostering true decentralization and collaboration across platforms.
Ethical frameworks: Centering principles of equity, sustainability, and inclusivity in blockchain governance and technological development.
To reclaim its emancipatory potential, blockchain must realign with its founding principles, resisting co-optation by centralized forces and instead becoming a tool for a more just and multipolar world.
