[edmundsauto]

Energy use that doesn't deliver concrete value to the world. Mostly just speculators and gambling, but uses a a couple hundred TWh of electricity worldwide.

Yes yes I know, some applications are lower energy usage but parent comment is asking about the ethics of crypto in general.

[zrn900]

> Energy use that doesn't deliver concrete value to the world

How is that any different from fast trading computers producing 'wealth' by juggling inflated derivatives and 'generating' water vapor value from hot air...

[sgift]

I don't think these are ethical either.

[throw10920]

> Mostly just speculators and gambling, but uses a a couple hundred TWh of electricity worldwide.

Parent asked about ethics of crypto, the technology, in general. This comment isn't about the technology, but the applications, and doesn't answer their question.

[edmundsauto]

I don't necessarily think we should separate applications from theory, but to be more crisp, I would probably say the facilitation of money laundering and funding of terrorist groups is something unethical.

[SEJeff]

Would you be shocked to know that US dollars are used more for both money laundering and funding terrorism than cryptocurrencies? Should we outlaw US dollars due to facilitating unethical uses?

[edmundsauto]

I dont think so because of the centralized oversight. Crypto is designed to avoid that oversight (but even fails at that much of the time).

[throw10920]

> I don't necessarily think we should separate applications from theory

Sure, not in general, but shaism was specifically asking for theory, and you replied to them without actually answering their question. And you still haven't.

> the facilitation of money laundering and funding of terrorist groups

...and this isn't unique to crypto, either, so it's unclear that it's relevant.

[snypher]

Wait until you find out what we do with all the water.