Cyberlibertarianism And The Crypto Imaginary

In this article, Jason Arias investigates the relationship between one realm of digital technology—bitcoin and the blockchain systems that allow it—and political inclinations like libertarianism premised on “technologically based” freedom. Arias finds a distinct similarity between the cultural wild-west imaginary of crypto-freedom with early “American frontier” mythology.

Cyberlibertarianism is one word to describe this mythos and worldview. A term and movement that arose in the 1980s, cyberlibertarians think that “freedom will emerge inherently from the increasing development of digital technology”. This, according to David Golumbia, the author of a book called The Politics of Bitcoin, which explores the ideological underpinnings and offshoots of cryptocurrency communities.

Encryption to shield oneself from surveillance and democratization of information have been proclaimed as rights for the digital age—but have also been taken as an ideological necessity for cyberlibertarians, who suspect that once traditional modes of governance collapse and everyone is on their own, this will be a matter of survival.

“Bitcoin is a speculation. Its proponents have made a big bet that the concept of the nation-state will soon go up in flames.”

Further, these notions are tinged with moral righteousness:

“In the perverse future of which these speculators dream, Bitcoin is the only money, and the wealthiest will be those who bought in early and held out through the dark times. The geek-Übermensch […] will reign.”