> Any application that could be done on a blockchain could be better done on a centralized database. Except crime. "Crime" is a word with bad connotations, but

> Any application that could be done on a blockchain could be better done on a centralized database. Except crime. "Crime" is a word with bad connotations, but what it actually means is "whatever your government doesn't allow you to do". Being able to do something that a government doesn't want you to do isn't prima facie wrong or immoral in most of the world. Even under more benign governments like the US one, there are plenty of normal activities that it doesn't allow for various bad reasons (war on drugs is a good example). Technically, bypassing the restrictions on drugs, avoiding capital controls or straight up confiscation of deposits, opting out of local currency devaluation, etc. can be "crime". However, it is actually good that crypto makes that possible. Is crypto a good tool for that, long term, from a technological standpoint? I am not sure. But the author is clearly sneaking in connotations here.