Abstract

In this article, blockchains are understood to have originated as a form of technology-centered activism. I argue that the prospects of relying on technology to promote social and political change are limited. Based on empirical evidence gathered in conferences and meetups on blockchain, I explore how narratives surrounding blockchains evolved with their increasing popularity. In doing so, I show how changes in technology narratives are crucial in popularizing a technology. However, many of these changes foreshadow blockchain implementations which will be at odds with many of the hopes and dreams of more activist leaning blockchain enthusiasts.