The real revolution in cryptocurrency is about humanity, not technology

Author: Badi Sudhakaran Co-founder of VALR, Source: Cointelegraph, Compiled by Shaw Golden Finance

It is well known that the financial system we know excludes too many people. This exclusion is not only reflected in the difficulty of obtaining banks or financial services, but also in dignity.

When people cannot preserve their wealth or cannot understand why their money depreciates, they lose more than just purchasing power, they also lose control of their lives.

Fortunately, the democratizing nature of cryptocurrency provides people with hope and a path to redemption. This is a way to fight inflation.

When "money" means more than "money"

Cryptocurrencies offer a way for people to reclaim their lost dignity through financial education and inclusion, something the current banking system often fails to do. While Bitcoin's price volatility may dominate the headlines, its value lies in something more fundamental: knowledge.

When people engage with cryptocurrencies, they begin to ask critical questions. Why is money valuable? How does the financial system work? What causes inflation?  

Knowledge is "the true source of wealth and glory of mankind." However, we must acknowledge the challenges facing cryptocurrencies. The technology that promises liberation can also become another tool of exclusion.  

For many, cryptocurrencies have become a playground for speculation, with complex interfaces and technical jargon creating new barriers for those who lack technical skills. Too often, industry players prioritize profitability over education, exposing new and vulnerable users to risks they don’t fully understand.

Learning from Scratch

A more honest path forward for blockchain lies in building systems that prioritize human understanding over transaction speed, and community benefit over individual gain. Technology alone cannot deliver dignity. It must be combined with responsible development and meaningful education.

True financial dignity emerges from a meaningful marriage of knowledge and agency. This is evident when a grandmother in rural India uses a crypto wallet instead of a bank-backed digital payment app because she understands its purpose and significance, rather than being told to do so. This is evident when a young entrepreneur in Johannesburg is able to participate equally in the global economy and clearly understands what she is doing and why.

What is particularly striking is how this knowledge spreads through the community. A small learning group of cryptocurrency users can quickly grow into a local knowledge hub where experienced users mentor newcomers, sharing technical skills and financial wisdom passed down from generation to generation. This kind of inclusivity is common across the blockchain space. Grassroots and community-led initiatives are often more effective than formal training programs because they root new technologies in local contexts and cultural understandings. When education is provided by communities to their own members, the transfer of knowledge is more dignified and respectful. Build a people-first system The hype and speculative tendencies of the cryptocurrency industry can obscure these deeper benefits. We need platforms that communicate in human terms rather than technical jargon. We need systems that protect while empowering, and communities that support while growing. This means we need to rethink how cryptocurrency platforms are designed from the ground up. We should not start with technical capabilities, but with the human side. How do people in different communities understand and use money? What are their fears and desires? What cultural factors influence their financial decisions?  

By infusing these human insights into our technological solutions, we can build systems that truly work for everyone, not just the technological elite or the financially privileged. If we fail to address legitimate concerns about accessibility and regulation, the skeptics who are skeptical of crypto will only fuel the flames.

Wealth is more than money; it’s knowledge, dignity, and connection. At its best, cryptocurrency embodies these values. It’s more than a technology; it’s a tool to empower, educate, and unite.

The cryptocurrency industry should champion authenticity and excellence to ensure that crypto works for everyone, not just a privileged few. In the future, money will finally mean more.