The recent surge in Bitcoin’s price has sparked widespread enthusiasm and renewed interest in the promise of sovereign money. However, beneath the surface of this excitement lies a critical blind spot: the lack of true sovereignty in the crypto space. According to Adrian Brink, Co-founder of Everywhere, this oversight stems from the fact that users of individual blockchains are forced to rely on a single global safety model, which can be a significant vulnerability.
The Illusion of Sovereignty
Sovereignty, in the context of cryptocurrency, refers to the ability of individuals and communities to control their own infrastructure, assets, and data on their own terms, without being forced to trust a distant global network, corporate ownership, or a set of validators that can be censored or unavailable. Unfortunately, this ideal has not yet been achieved, and the current state of the crypto industry falls short of this vision.
The modern consensus mechanisms that underpin most blockchains are monolithic and globally synchronized, leaving users, institutions, and governments with little flexibility to adapt trust assumptions based on specific requirements, compliance needs, or risk models. This rigid framework resembles a single global fabric for crypto, with little room for sovereignty or customization.
The Risks of Global Infrastructure
The global infrastructure that supports the crypto ecosystem is not only limited but also vulnerable to disruptions in global connectivity. The security assumptions that underlie blockchain technology rely on a connected worldwide internet, which can be fragile in the face of geopolitical instability or authoritarian regimes that restrict access to the internet. Recent incidents, such as the cut cable in the Red Sea and the sabotage of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, highlight the risks of relying on a single global network.
These events underscore the importance of rethinking our assumptions about sovereignty and the need for more robust, adaptable, and localized infrastructure. The good news is that innovative solutions are emerging that can help alleviate our dependence on global connectivity and provide users with true sovereignty and resilience.
Towards a More Sovereign Future
So, how can we achieve this vision of sovereignty? According to Brink, it requires innovations that go beyond the fixed principles associated with rigid global consensus mechanisms. Real sovereignty means having infrastructure that can function as locally as necessary when the global network is fragmented and as globally as possible when conditions improve.
This can be achieved through the development of anti-fragile, free-form networks that can dynamically adapt to changing conditions, requirements, and geographical contexts. Such systems enable local sovereignty, allowing communities and users to manage and secure their assets independently without relying on continuous, uniform global consensus.
By embracing these new approaches to blockchain infrastructure, we can create a more robust, resilient, and sovereign crypto ecosystem. As Brink notes, the challenge is monumental, but the mission is nothing less than the future of digital sovereignty and financial freedom.
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