HN loves crypto, just not cryptocurrency. Cryptography can be the most venerable tech on the planet when implemented right. Good cryptosystems protect us everyday, and their continued development and research is necessary to truly ensure that personal security is attainable.
Cryptocurrency is a more dubious system. It's trustless and has some cryptographic elements, which is cool and very nerd porn, but it's also intrinsically social and complicated beyond understanding for the layman. That's where custodial scams and interpersonal exploits crop up, along with the other problems of sharing a universal ledger. Wildly variable gas fees, fraudulent transactions, systemic abuse and non-canonical forks are all just a part of the Blockchain model. Combine that with a lack of implementation spec, an incentive to fleece your user and zero regulatory bodies, and you might see how people dislike cryptocurrency. I don't even like the startup culture this website worships, but trusting the Blockchain to be a solution is fatal overcompensation.
I can recommend something like PGP or OpenSSL full stop. I cannot recommend cryptocurrency unless you know what you're doing, have a specific use for it, and treat your crypto-assets as disposable if you intend to keep them in the long-term. Those aren't just unacceptable terms for a successful currency; that's unacceptable for any online networked platform.
Cryptocurrency is a more dubious system. It's trustless and has some cryptographic elements, which is cool and very nerd porn, but it's also intrinsically social and complicated beyond understanding for the layman. That's where custodial scams and interpersonal exploits crop up, along with the other problems of sharing a universal ledger. Wildly variable gas fees, fraudulent transactions, systemic abuse and non-canonical forks are all just a part of the Blockchain model. Combine that with a lack of implementation spec, an incentive to fleece your user and zero regulatory bodies, and you might see how people dislike cryptocurrency. I don't even like the startup culture this website worships, but trusting the Blockchain to be a solution is fatal overcompensation.
I can recommend something like PGP or OpenSSL full stop. I cannot recommend cryptocurrency unless you know what you're doing, have a specific use for it, and treat your crypto-assets as disposable if you intend to keep them in the long-term. Those aren't just unacceptable terms for a successful currency; that's unacceptable for any online networked platform.