The crypto world loves to discuss revolution. About decentralization. About freedom. How much of that really gets down to the folks who need it? We hear the stories, the projections, the “to the moon” enthusiasm. Or Amahle, in Johannesburg, finding it increasingly difficult to send money back home to her family in rural KwaZulu-Natal? Or Sipho, just wanting to expand a small business but always fighting off the threat of predatory lenders? That's where we need to focus.

Are We Really Solving Problems?

Let's be honest with ourselves. A 10% drop in the altcoin market is enough to send investors into a panic. This decrease is miniscule compared to the everyday monetary stressors that hundreds of millions in developing countries face. Granted, XRP, Chainlink (LINK), Sei (SEI), and Sui (SUI) went against the tide with gains of as much as 40%. How did that rally help put food on anybody’s table in Soweto today?

XRP's "bullish breakout" – great. Is it actually advancing the goal of making cross-border remittances more convenient for South Africans? Without a bank account, they pay exorbitant fees to wire money through traditional channels. I’m not just talking about the sticker price upfront, I’m talking about the true cost, the hidden fees. But is it cheaper and faster in reality? Because if it’s not, then it’s just another new fangled speculative asset for rich investors to roll the dice on. This is, after all, the billion-dollar question that the industry must collectively learn to address.

I can imagine Amahle telling me, "Look, I don't care about 'bullish breakouts.' I care about whether I can send R500 home without losing R100 in fees!"

The Visa Partnership Mirage

Chainlink partnering with Visa sounds impressive. Secure data oracles in mainstream finance. Institutional adoption. Buzzwords, buzzwords, buzzwords. Here's the unexpected connection: it reminds me of the early days of microfinance. Vows to lift the vulnerable, but then leaving behind a trail of paralyzing debt and deeper exclusion.

Now, does this Visa partnership really democratizing finance? Or are we just enriching the existing elites, truly just stitching crypto into the fabric of our existing inequitable systems? Will it make it easier for Sipho to obtain a modest micro-loan, at a fair priced interest rate? Or will he be met with a different set of technological challenges and put at risk of further exploitation? And that’s really the question we should be asking.

The key here is access. Not to mention, how many people in these townships have the reliable internet access to utilize any of these services at all. We want to know how many of you understand the complexities of blockchain technology! Are we building solutions that really cater to them? Or are we simply creating solutions that equip them on all sides, trusting those benefits will someday touch their lives too.

Moreover, we should not be quick to cheer fantastic partnerships such as this without looking to see how real-world results are benefitting our most vulnerable communities. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of "institutional adoption," but we must always remember who we're supposedly trying to help.

Sei, Sui, and the Wyoming Wild West

Circle becoming a top holder of SEI tokens and Sei securing a regulatory win in Wyoming… Frankly, it feels like the Wild West all over again. New technologies, new players, and a whole lot of room for both innovation and exploitation. Sui bragged about exceeding $500 billion in cumulative transaction volume. This figure becomes meaningless if the bulk of that trading is simply whales swapping assets back and forth between each other.

Here’s the awe/wonder I'm looking for: I want to see Sei and Sui used to create transparent and equitable supply chains for South African farmers, connecting them directly to global markets and cutting out exploitative middlemen. I would like to see these technologies radically improve decentralized identity systems. Specifically, they should uplift marginalized communities and protect them from scams.

Like any American, I want to see real, tangible benefits that make people’s daily lives better. Not empty bragging about transaction volumes and regulatory “wins” that only benefit rich investors. The anxiety/fear I have is that these technologies, without careful consideration and ethical implementation, will simply exacerbate existing inequalities.

The ETF filing linked to Sui...It’s yet another sign that institutional money is already starting to circle. Are they going to invest in real solutions for real people, or are they going to pump and dump, leaving the most vulnerable holding the bag?

Beyond the Charts: A Call to Action

The increase in the demand for these tokens might be due to technical indicators and their development on strategic partnerships. Yet the true motivating factor has to be a desire to act more socially responsible. And that starts with asking tough questions.

It’s time to look past the hype and promises and prioritize the human impact of these technologies. We have to heed the testimony of folks like Amahle and Sipho. We should be pushing hard for more transparency and accountability from the crypto industry.

I’m not arguing that XRP, LINK, SEI, and SUI are bad in and of themselves. They have the potential to do good. But potential is not enough. We need to ensure they are accountable. Then let’s get to work ensuring these approaches have real teeth to help create a more just and equitable world.

So let’s not lose ourselves in the slides and the graphs and the percent change. Let's focus on the people. Because ultimately, that's what really matters. The surprise/curiosity I want to end on is this: what if we truly prioritized human well-being above all else in the crypto space? What kind of world could we build?