**Cryptocurrency: A Modern-Day Religion?**
*Crypto Evangelists and Blockchain Churches*
In the world of cryptocurrency, there are unmistakable echoes of religiosity. From the enigmatic figure of bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, to the self-proclaimed status of “Bitcoin Jesus” for Roger Ver, the proud promoter of Bitcoin Cash, and the radiant halo depicted on stickers of Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin – all evoke the imagery of devotion and spirituality. Even the launch of the privacy coin Zcash was marked by a modern ritual known as the “Ceremony,” including five anonymous “Witnesses.”
**Crypto Evangelism**
Crypto Twitter is a hotbed of dogmatic proclamations, inter-token heresy, and evangelists zealously spreading the gospel of their chosen cryptocurrency. As pointed out by theologian Matthew Liston, bitcoin can be seen as the first “purely capitalist religion.” Liston draws a parallel between the fervor of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and the nature of modern-day consumerism in secular culture.
**The Mystical Fervor of Cryptocurrency**
Amber Baldet, former head of JP Morgan’s blockchain project Quorum and current CEO of crypto startup Clovyr, believes that there is something about cryptocurrency that ignites mystical fervor more than your typical capitalist endeavor. According to her, it takes a certain irrationality and dogmatism to hold fast to the belief in a radically different world, which is often seen in the blockchain and crypto communities, lending them a cultish appearance.
**The Intersection of Technology and Religion**
The rise of blockchain and cryptocurrency is not the only instance of the convergence of technology and religion. In 2017, former Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski launched the Way of the Future (WOTF), a church dedicated to the idea of artificial intelligence as a god. WOTF aims to democratize participation in AI-based projects, attracting both specialists and laymen to the cause.
Another example is the Church of Perpetual Life, which bills itself as “the only supplemental science-based church in the world,” focusing on faith in human technologies and discoveries to end aging and defeat involuntary death within our lifetime.
**Conclusion**
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, the emergence of fervent communities resembling modern-day religions is not surprising. From the fervor of cryptocurrency evangelists to the intersection of technology and spirituality in blockchain and AI projects, the parallels with religious fervor continue to attract attention and discussion. Whether it’s the fervor of crypto evangelists or the emergence of blockchain churches and AI-focused religious movements, the intersection of technology and religion continues to evolve in intriguing and sometimes unexpected ways.
I have over 10 years of experience in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. I have attended numerous conferences and events around the world, and my work has been featured in major publications such as CoinDesk, Bitcoin Magazine, and Yahoo Finance.
