Crypto Payments and Personal Freedom

At the end of the August 29th article, there were two comments: "Have you read the book 'Stablecoins: A Relevance to Every Ordinary Person'? It explains a lot about the application scenarios of stablecoins and the integration of stablecoins, AI, and the Internet of Things." "Should we launch a blockchain mall where you can download games and various software, just like the Apple Store, but this mall must have a unified currency, such as Ethereum?" Lately, I've been particularly sensitive to topics related to crypto payments, and thoughts and questions about them keep flashing through my mind. The reason I've been thinking about these questions so frequently recently is, firstly, that something has struck a nerve deep within me, and secondly, I've recently become particularly interested in Peter Thiel and Palantir, the company he personally helped build. Because of these experiences, my thinking has undergone a significant shift. My previous perspective on crypto payments can be seen in my past articles: For a period of time in the past few months, I've been discussing the AI ​​+ Crypto space extensively. From this perspective, my main point of view and conclusion is that cryptocurrency serves AI and presupposes future scenarios for AI-agent transactions. However, despite the immense potential and commercial promise of this scenario, I viewed it purely from a business perspective, and as an outsider. Regardless of the immense imagination it sparked, I always felt like a distant observer, a disinterested person. But now, as I wrote in my August 29th article, I've found my thinking has shifted significantly. I've returned to a human perspective and a human state. No matter how advanced, spectacular, or grand AI becomes in the future, humans will always be crucial members of society. Furthermore, we ourselves are human beings. Considering our own humanity, even if we live in the future, we still need to consider our own interests, our own environment, and the challenges we may face. Even if AI can provide services that seem unparalleled today, will those services be accessible to everyone? If not? Who will create obstacles? I believe a significant portion of these obstacles will likely still stem from centralized institutions controlled by humans. For example, in some regions, all services provided by AI agents are still required to be paid for in fiat currency. Those who control the fiat currency can then dictate who can and cannot access these services. Think about it this way: regardless of AI or not, no matter how advanced future AI agents become, if this barrier remains, even in a sci-fi future, people will still be controlled by centralized institutions. From the Trump family to the countless small businesses in Yiwu, centralized institutions can find a pretext to cause endless trouble. A small department thousands of miles away, somewhere you've never heard of, can cut off your livelihood. Living in such a world, no matter how fantastical the surroundings, people will lack dignity and protection. Therefore, the significance of crypto payments lies not only in its ability to support grand AI narratives, but also in its ability to uphold individual dignity and security. Knowing its significance, I believe that as participants in this ecosystem, if able, we should contribute to the advent of crypto payments. Peter Thiel is a prime example of this. When he saw his country drifting away from his desired values, he didn't engage in politics like many others. Instead, he funded and even personally nurtured companies and individuals that align with his values, thereby subtly transforming his country. Familiar examples like Palantir, Tesla, SpaceX, and US Vice President Vance are the fruits of his years of hard work. Some say his investment is something far more substantial: not business, but power. But when I saw him earnestly urging Musk to continue working with Trump and not oppose the Big, American Act, I could still strongly sense the burning passion within him—a spiritual pursuit that transcends business and profit, dedicated to defending conservative values. Since the crypto payment sector means breaking free from shackles and regaining dignity for individuals, it's crucial for participants in the crypto ecosystem to pay close attention. I haven't read the book "Stablecoins Closely Related to Every Ordinary People," but I'm particularly interested in whether the "stablecoins" discussed in the book are globally freely circulated stablecoins developed on public blockchains, or "stablecoins" designed within the confines of a consortium blockchain. If the former, then the book is worth reading. But if the latter, then caution is advised. Such "stablecoin" payments simply lead humans from one fence to another, changing the name but not the substance, and thus meaningless.

Even last year, I would have ignored the concept of a "blockchain mall." But now, when I see a project like this, I will take a serious look at it and even try it out.