We love to say someone got “crypto-pilled” and “fell down the rabbithole”. This isn’t just slang—it’s a fundamental shift in worldview. Ask about the moment crypto “clicked” for someone and you’ll often get an unexpectedly personal story, even rivaling a spiritual experience.
I can recall two moments that shaped my own journey. The first, when I understood that not all nations can trust their government to maintain the value of their currency, making Bitcoin a compelling store-of-value. The second, when I used my first dapp on Ethereum and saw my OpenSea profile hydrate with assets from a game made by a different company. These moments transformed how I saw the world by breaking down the impermeable borders between countries and apps, respectively.
There was no going back. My brain just worked differently after that.
It's no surprise that we’re embracing crypto after what we’ve witnessed. Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Revolution when he nailed his criticism to the doors of the church. Similarly, Satoshi kicked over the first domino for us. He/she published the Bitcoin Whitepaper in the wake of the ‘08 crash—the fallout of our own corrupt institutions selling indulgences in the form of credit ratings.
The Protestant Revolution and the Renaissance were characterized by a whole new way of viewing the world and humanity's place within it. After fifteen years of germination, we're finally reaching the point where onchain culture can have a similar impact.
When I say "onchain culture", I'm referring to those of us who have made our way down the rabbithole. We are rethinking our relationship to money, art, ownership, and intellectual property. We now have the tools to steward this worldview into our art, products, and technology.
If you’re reading this, you have a chance to put a dent in the universe. Pay attention to what’s emerging within you. Clear your channel. Create something only you can, just because you want it to exist
Welcome to the New Renaissance.
Richie
