From the earliest days of the web, the internet has been a place of free exchange—a platform that connects people, ideas, and information without borders. Initially, this exchange was limited to communication and content sharing. However, as the web evolved, so did the need for more complex forms of coordination—mechanisms that allow individuals to collaborate, transact, and build value across a global network.

This is where cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology come into play. Crypto represents a new paradigm—a permissionless coordination mechanism that is uniquely suited for the internet. Unlike traditional systems, which rely on central authorities, crypto enables decentralised networks to operate autonomously. It allows anyone, anywhere, to participate without needing approval from governments, banks, or corporations.

This “permissionless” nature is one of the core principles that has driven the explosive growth of blockchain ecosystems. Historically, the internet began as a decentralised network itself. The early days of the web were open and permissionless, with protocols like HTTP, TCP/IP, and HTML allowing anyone with the right tools to publish, browse, and share content. But over time, large tech companies built walled gardens, centralised control over user data, and dictated the terms of engagement.

Crypto, in many ways, is a return to the internet’s original ethos—empowering individuals to act and collaborate without intermediaries. With blockchain as its backbone, crypto brings transparency, trustlessness, and programmability to financial systems, contracts, and even social structures. It coordinates the efforts of people across the globe to solve problems, create value, and establish new forms of governance.

The decentralised nature of crypto and blockchain allows for the creation of "digital commons"—shared spaces where communities can self-govern and exchange value. Whether it's coordinating investments, running decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), or enabling peer-to-peer networks, crypto provides the tools to build open, borderless systems that align with the principles of the early internet.

In short, crypto is more than just digital money. It's a coordination mechanism designed for the web's next chapter—where permissionless innovation, self-sovereignty, and community-driven solutions become the new standard for how we interact online. Crypto links us back to the history of the internet, but with the power to do so much more than ever before.