It's not surprising that blockchain and cryptocurrency are not viewed as cult-like systems with priestly leaders. The transparency and open approach of true leaders in the field, such as Vitalik Buterin and Satoshi Nakamoto, confirm this. Perhaps it's because these individuals have achieved extreme Taleb-like convexity, positions from which they cannot be easily destroyed, or they simply have no fear of rising again.
Other areas, such as AI (led by individuals like Hinton and Marcus), ESG (with uncertain leadership), and DEI (requiring heroic or priestly leadership that overlooks inherent ambiguities), may also feature charismatic leaders. These leaders may be necessary to drive technological progress, even as they unleash the animal spirits of innovation and inspire foot soldiers to push forward, as Carlota Perez refers to it as the Frenzy phase in Financial Capital.
This phenomenon is well-known in economics, from Schumpeter's theory of creative destruction to Minsky's theory of financial instability. However, some institutions may be reluctant to interact with such leaders due to natural inertia, limited abilities, or a desire to preserve the status quo. Nonetheless, at the cost of sounding priestly, it should be recognised, times of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) are times of change and opportunity, requiring courage from leaders.
It's not surprising that blockchain and cryptocurrency are not viewed as cult-like systems with priestly leaders. The transparency and open approach of true leaders in the field, such as Vitalik Buterin and Satoshi Nakamoto, confirm this. Perhaps it's because these individuals have achieved extreme Taleb-like convexity, positions from which they cannot be easily destroyed, or they simply have no fear of rising again.
Other areas, such as AI (led by individuals like Hinton and Marcus), ESG (with uncertain leadership), and DEI (requiring heroic or priestly leadership that overlooks inherent ambiguities), may also feature charismatic leaders. These leaders may be necessary to drive technological progress, even as they unleash the animal spirits of innovation and inspire foot soldiers to push forward, as Carlota Perez refers to it as the Frenzy phase in Financial Capital.
This phenomenon is well-known in economics, from Schumpeter's theory of creative destruction to Minsky's theory of financial instability. However, some institutions may be reluctant to interact with such leaders due to natural inertia, limited abilities, or a desire to preserve the status quo. Nonetheless, at the cost of sounding priestly, it should be recognised, times of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) are times of change and opportunity, requiring courage from leaders.