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From the Coinbase post: > Coinbase’s mission is to create an open financial system for the world. This means we want to use cryptocurrency to bring economic fr

From the Coinbase post: > Coinbase’s mission is to create an open financial system for the world. This means we want to use cryptocurrency to bring economic freedom to people all over the world. Change the global financial system! Break the shackles of fiat money! But, like, not in a political way.

adamisom 6y ago
Could be they're inherently political in one way, but that doesn't mean they have to be in other ways. They might just want to focus on their vision and let others focus on other (political-in-nature) visions.
bpodgursky 6y ago
He clearly states that they are open to political advocacy if government regulations threaten their mission, but it is not plan A, or their goal: > "Policy decisions: If there is a bill introduced around crypto, we may engage here, but we normally wouldn’t engage in policy decisions around healthcare or education for example."
gonzo41 6y ago
I don't think the crypto crowd really get what sovereignty enables governments to do. Crypto monies presents an threat to central banks. I wouldn't say an existential level of threat. But probably large enough for the established players to be a little less than civilized in their response. Crytpo may get crushed by tax law, or other regulations that the people in the real world are accountable to. Or more likely bankers knowing how to make a buck, will Embrace, Extend, Extinguish the currencies in their current form and all the feel good anarchist vibes of crypto will be replaced by another system that has built in inequality.
- xiphias2 6y ago
  ,,I don't think the crypto crowd really get what sovereignty enables governments to do. '' Of course they do. At least the ones who put their whole life on it, like Dr Adam Back who was risking getting into prison for ,,exporting classified munitions'' on a T-shirt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Back#Cryptography_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Back#Cryptography_softwar...). Also the risk to central banks is real, and the change will be huge. People still underestimate how hard the 21 million Bitcoin limit is, and how hard it will be to own 1 Bitcoin in the future (it's just possible for 1 in 400 people in theory, but in practice it will much harder than getting in the 99.9% percentile). Coinbase is not part of this crowd though, they just want to push altcoins so that they can make money from day traders.
  - crtasm 6y ago
    I don't understand what you think the significance is of owning 1 bitcoin? You can deal with tiny fractions just fine.

adamisom 6y ago

Could be they're inherently political in one way, but that doesn't mean they have to be in other ways. They might just want to focus on their vision and let others focus on other (political-in-nature) visions.

bpodgursky 6y ago

He clearly states that they are open to political advocacy if government regulations threaten their mission, but it is not plan A, or their goal: > "Policy decisions: If there is a bill introduced around crypto, we may engage here, but we normally wouldn’t engage in policy decisions around healthcare or education for example."

gonzo41 6y ago

I don't think the crypto crowd really get what sovereignty enables governments to do. Crypto monies presents an threat to central banks. I wouldn't say an existential level of threat. But probably large enough for the established players to be a little less than civilized in their response. Crytpo may get crushed by tax law, or other regulations that the people in the real world are accountable to. Or more likely bankers knowing how to make a buck, will Embrace, Extend, Extinguish the currencies in their current form and all the feel good anarchist vibes of crypto will be replaced by another system that has built in inequality.

xiphias2 6y ago
,,I don't think the crypto crowd really get what sovereignty enables governments to do. '' Of course they do. At least the ones who put their whole life on it, like Dr Adam Back who was risking getting into prison for ,,exporting classified munitions'' on a T-shirt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Back#Cryptography_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Back#Cryptography_softwar...). Also the risk to central banks is real, and the change will be huge. People still underestimate how hard the 21 million Bitcoin limit is, and how hard it will be to own 1 Bitcoin in the future (it's just possible for 1 in 400 people in theory, but in practice it will much harder than getting in the 99.9% percentile). Coinbase is not part of this crowd though, they just want to push altcoins so that they can make money from day traders.
- crtasm 6y ago
  I don't understand what you think the significance is of owning 1 bitcoin? You can deal with tiny fractions just fine.