The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the monetary system faced an uphill climb. Trust in financial institutions was at an ebb. Bitcoin arrived appealing to the masses with the ability to send money online, blockchain technology serving as the written record for any and all transactions. Bitcoin’s progress was steady, first from independent sources, then picked up by large banks. Vitalik Buterin saw limits with bitcoin and blockchain technology while researching the digital currency and platform. Buterin was looking for a cryptocurrency that had financial singularity. Ethereum was born. The evolution of Ethereum wasn’t smooth as various insiders lobbied for proper credit, and others sought to manipulate the decisions of Buterin. Besides internal strife, hackers sought to nab Ethereum tokens and hijack the market.

The Cryptopians relates the birth of a new currency from a brilliant mind, how it was nurtured by a disparate group, and how fragile egos nearly destroyed the burgeoning currency. Author Laura Shin covers this human drama with the skill of a seasoned auteur, but never skimps on the fine details of the vast and enigmatic world of cryptocurrency. Money, power, backstabbing, and privacy are just a few of the themes that make for a powerful read.