They partied like rock stars, searched for aliens, practiced survivalism, and sometimes showed up without shoes. Then crypto winter came—and they lost billions. Clara Molot talks to the zealots who are holding the line.
My first impressions of web3
Despite considering myself a cryptographer, I have not found myself particularly drawn to “crypto.” I don’t think I’ve ever actually said the words “get off my lawn,” but I’m much more likely to click on Pepperidge Farm Remembers flavored memes about how “crypto” used to mean “cryptography” than ...
The crypto dream
Arvind Narayanan just gave a fascinating talk at Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy entitled ‘What Happened to the Crypto Dream?’. That link is to the video, whi…
The crypto alternative | TechCrunch
Suppose, just for a moment, just for argument's sake, that (some) cryptocurrencies are not a giant scam, and what's more, they're not just another kind of
The Invisible Protocol Thesis: Tomorrow's Crypto Unicorns
Following the introduction of any new disruptive innovation, there is always a speculative phase to a technology cycle as the market tries to size and time the market opportunity.
The (Edited) Latecomer's Guide to Crypto
A group of cryptocurrency researchers and critics annotate the irresponsible cryptocurrency puff piece that was originally published in the New York Times.
Politically Connected Crypto Project Pursued Resort With Alleged Scam Syndicate Figures
AB is a little-known blockchain network that recently partnered with the Trump family’s crypto firm. But one of the projects it has promoted — a proposed crypto technology resort in Southeast Asia — involved people sanctioned by the U.S. last year for ties to the Prince Group, an alleged multibillion-dollar fraud...
Cryptopedia — Oakland Public Library
Cryptopedia — Demcak, Andrew — Cryptopedia by Andrew Demcak speaks directly to the secret sides of our beings, to our shadow-selves. It is the oldest story we have, and it wants to be told. This collection comes from a place where children go missing, where monsters roam freely, and urban myths transform into realities.
The Latecomer’s Guide to Crypto (Published 2022)
Crypto is a lot of things – including terribly explained. We’re here to clear things up.
Mapping Trump's Crypto Empire
Untangling the sprawling web of Trump family crypto ventures, and the fortune they’re making by cashing in on the presidency.
Web Crypto’s SubtleCrypto: A Masterclass in Developer Hostility and How It Strangles the Modern Web
Not Subtle, Just Sabotage — An API Against the Web
Meet the AI OnlyFans: How one startup raised millions to build an ‘erotic companions’ platform | Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Meet the AI OnlyFans: How one startup raised millions to build an ‘erotic companions’ platform --- When AI erotic companion startup Oh raised a $4.5m funding round in January, it had something few in the shadowy new sector could boast. A roster of named investors, publicly backing the company. VCs are often bound by “vice clauses”, which prohibit firms from investing in controversial products like pornography or weapons. As a result, startups working on ethically contentious products often rely on angel investors and family offices to stay afloat. But Oh, which generates NSFW adult content and conversations with both fictional characters as well as bots based on real people, has tapped into a group of seemingly less squeamish investors: crypto VCs. It’s drawn backing from the likes of Tangent, Kosmos Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Bodhi Ventures and Tagus Capital. “Raising money for a business like this from non-crypto VCs is very difficult,” says Oh founder and CEO Nic Young, who positions the startup as a “decentralised platform” and offers payments via crypto. “A lot of crypto VCs don’t have vice clauses — it’s more liberal and free.” Oh wants to use those fresh funds to build the “AI OnlyFans”, with plans to roll out autonomous scantily clad bots that can market themselves on social media and direct message users with spicy conversation starters. The biggest challenge? Convincing enough users it’s not that weird turning to AI when you’re looking for romance. https://lnkd.in/eRF7a5Dn
“BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH CRYPTOART WILL BE SOLVED SOON, RIGHT?”
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are an absolute disaster for so many more reasons than the ecological.
Privy Blog | Privy and Stripe: Bringing crypto to everyone
We started Privy a little over three years ago to make it easy for any developer to build better products on crypto rails. Whether crypto is core to your app or simply a new layer of functionality, a good crypto product should just feel like a good product, period. By making crypto usable, we help make it useful for everyone.
Meredith Whittaker on Twitter / X
I read it. And I'll engage here in good faith. But before I get into substance, I implore you to open the window, touch grass, and let yourself connect with the reality of what’s happening right now. This is a world historical moment. Please recognize what ICE is at this time,… https://t.co/DJVVqNX6oX— Meredith Whittaker (@mer__edith) January 29, 2026
Rationalist Cults
Articles on rationalist-adjacent cults: the Zizians, Leverage Research, and the darker outgrowths of the rationalist / LessWrong-derived / Aella polycule scene that is behind "AI Safety" in Silicon Valley. Working thesis: MIRI and CFAR read as high-control groups (cults) who believe in P(DOOM) and use sex (and power) maliciously — yet they are unfortunately the ones who have captured the framing of "AI Safety," which has little to do with actual safety.
The Effective Altruism Kids Aren’t Alright
My Experience with Leverage Research
What Policymakers and the Public Need to Know About the Cult of AI
banteg (@banteg)
The Techno-Religion at the Center of the A.I. Debate
SE Gyges (@segyges.bsky.social)