ADA's price is up. Great. Another green candle. But seriously, who doesn’t want to see some additional whales created in the process? It’s time to stop judging projects by their market caps and trading volumes. The more important question we should be asking is if this actually helps people other than the rich get richer.

Price Surge, Social Impact Surge?

We've seen the headlines: ADA's rallying, analysts are optimistic, blah, blah, blah. Let's make an unexpected connection here. You know those shiny ads for electric vehicles, emphasizing how green they are. Only to discover that the mining required to produce the lithium for those batteries frequently wipes out indigenous communities and delicate ecosystems. Are we repeating that same mistake today with crypto? Have we really been so dulled by the expectation of profit that we haven’t realized why we might be socially exploited?

This is the potential for awe I’m sensing, the wonder about what blockchain could do. Yet at the same time I’m acutely aware of an anxiety that runs very deep. What if this technology that was supposed to democratize finance actually just entrench inequality further?

Cardano could be different. It prides itself on being practice-focused with a particular interest in applications for developing countries. Where's the proof? Where are the stories of real Americans whose lives have been positively and measurably impacted by ADA? I want to hear about the smallholder farmers in Africa using Cardano to secure loans, not just about the next speculative price target.

Forgotten Voices, Real-World Change

Here's where empathy comes in. We must move away from the narrative that’s currently focused on price prediction and back toward understanding the human stories. Picture a future where blockchain lifts up the most marginalized among us. These communities become connected to financial services, their own identities, and transparent supply chains. Cardano has the potential to be a leading force in creating that world, but only if we make the demand.

I want to see Cardano projects that are actively addressing issues like:

  • Financial Inclusion: Providing access to banking and credit for the unbanked.
  • Supply Chain Transparency: Ensuring fair prices and ethical sourcing for farmers and artisans.
  • Identity Verification: Giving individuals control over their personal data and preventing fraud.
  • Education: Creating accessible and affordable online learning platforms.

We can’t simply trust Cardano’s claims. We need third-party verification and rigorous impact evaluations. Most critically though, we want to hear from the folks who are actually reaping the benefits from these projects.

This isn’t about outrage for outrage’s sake, but this is about accountability, and the Cardano Foundation’s accountability. Are they actually putting social impact first, or does that only serve as a shiny marketing façade to lure in investors. I’m being suckered in to a valuable curiosity gap here, an effective surprise here. What if ADA’s current rally is indeed based on a foundation of promises unfulfilled?

Invest in Impact, Not Just Gains

Here's my actionable advice: before you throw your money into ADA, do your homework. Get to know Cardano-based projects that are making waves in the social and environmental space. Seek out opportunities where there is a readily apparent social purpose and proven history of achieving measurable outcomes. Fund projects that boost working-class people of color alongside environmental and climate justice.

Here's an unexpected connection: think of ADA as a vote. Each purchase or sale you make is a statement that helps determine what kind of future you want to live in. Are you looking to create a future where crypto is merely a new tool to enable the rich to become richer, faster? Or would you prefer a future where crypto is used to help everyday people, advance liberty and social justice, and build a more fair and just society?

The choice is yours. It’s high time we begin to demand more from these American Rescue Plan projects. Failure to do so, we too are complicit in upholding the status quo. The 2024 ADA rally will be an unprecedented opportunity to make a positive impact. Don't waste it. Let’s go from a real estate price surge to a social impact surge.

This is the time to act and lead by example on what's important to us. We need to demand that the crypto universe deliver on its pledge to create a better tomorrow for everyone — not just enrich the lucky handful.