Following bitmover's
topic, another must read article is
The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto, written by Tim May.
The essay was first made public in 1988 (4 years earlier than Eric Hughes' article
A Cypherpunk Manifesto), at Crypto '88 conference and it depicts the extraordinary vision of Tim May over some aspects which became real 30 years later.
The manuscript details how technology based on cryptography and reputation systems will change the world as we know it, including governs, taxes or economic control:
"Computer technology is on the verge of providing the ability for individuals and groups to communicate and interact with each other in a totally anonymous manner. Two persons may exchange messages, conduct business, and negotiate electronic contracts without ever knowing the True Name, or legal identity, of the other. Interactions over networks will be untraceable, via extensive re- routing of encrypted packets and tamper-proof boxes which implement cryptographic protocols with nearly perfect assurance against any tampering. Reputations will be of central importance, far more important in dealings than even the credit ratings of today. These developments will alter completely the nature of government regulation, the ability to tax and control economic interactions, the ability to keep information secret, and will even alter the nature of trust and reputation.".
May's vision certainly can be appreciated in crypto with Jules Verne's vision in science-fiction.
With just so few words, he expressed so many actual technological developments, such as smart contracts, Tor, Bitcoin technology or the reputation system (used, for example, on BitcoinTalk as the Merit and Trust systems).
The reference to the "True Name" might be inspired from Vernor Vinge's novel "
True Names" (1981), which is a fine piece of art.
He also forseen the apparition of black markets and the governs' fight to stop the information getting to the people:
"The State will of course try to slow or halt the spread of this technology, citing national security concerns, use of the technology by drug dealers and tax evaders, and fears of societal disintegration. Many of these concerns will be valid; crypto anarchy will allow national secrets to be trade freely and will allow illicit and stolen materials to be traded. An anonymous computerized market will even make possible abhorrent markets for assassinations and extortion. Various criminal and foreign elements will be active users of CryptoNet. But this will not halt the spread of crypto anarchy.".
The essay ends with "Arise, you have nothing to lose but your barbed wire fences!". The barbed wire fences are well known by the Americans. They is a part of their history: the western territories were bordered with barbed wires and the cowboys, which wanted freedom, were cutting the wires. It is a call to fight against the governs' corruption and oppression. Against secret agencies' efforts to shut down the information.
All of us should continue Cypherpunks' work and to fight for freedom!
Translations (in chronological order):
- Română: Manifestul Crypto Anarhic – Cu toții ar trebui să-l citim, translation by GazetaBitcoin
- Filipino: [Translation] Ang anarkiya at pag manipesto ng krypto - Mahalagang dapat basahin, translation by Peanutswar
- Polish: Manifest kryptoanarchistyczny - Wszyscy powinniśmy go przeczytać, translation by cygan
- Pidgin: De Crypto Anarchist Manifesto - Make all of us read am, translation by sokani
- French: Le Manifeste Crypto-anarchiste - Nous devrions tous le lire, translation by iwantmyhomepaidwithbtc2
- Portuguese: O Manifesto Cripto Anarquista - Todos nós devemos ler, translation by bitmover
- Bengali: ক্রিপ্টো নৈরাজ্যবাদী ফতোয়া - পড়া উচিৎ, translation by Learn Bitcoin
- Indonesian: Manifesto Crypto Anarchist – Kita semua harus membacanya, translation by dansus021
- Russian: Maнифecт кpиптoaнapxиcтa - нaм вceм cлeдy, translation by FP91G
- Urdu: کرپٹو انارکسٹ مینی فیسٹو - ہم سب کو اسے پڑھنا, translation by JunaidAzizi
- German: Das krypto-anarchistische Manifest - Wir sollten es alle lesen, translation by cygan