Crypto restores dignity and agency to those excluded by traditional finance.

Opinion by: Badi Sudhakaran, co-founder, VALR

Finance, as we know it, leaves far too many behind. This exclusion isn’t just about access to banking or financial services — it’s about dignity.

When people can’t preserve their wealth or understand why their money loses value, they lose more than just purchasing power. They lose agency over their lives.

Fortunately, the democratized nature of crypto offers a silver lining and a redemption arc for people. It’s a way of fighting to get back what inflation has stolen.

When “money” means more than just “money”

Crypto offers a path to restore lost dignity through financial education and inclusion, which the current banking system often fails to deliver. While Bitcoin’s (BTC) price movements may grab headlines, the value lies in something more fundamental: knowledge.

When people engage with cryptocurrency, they begin asking essential questions. Why does money have value? How do financial systems work? What causes inflation? 

Knowledge, as the Bahá’í Writings note, becomes “a veritable treasure for man and a source of glory.” We must, however, acknowledge crypto’s challenges. The same technology that promises liberation can become another tool for exclusion. 

For many, crypto has devolved into a speculative playground, while complex interfaces and technical jargon create new barriers for those lacking technical competence. Industry participants often prioritize profit over education, exposing new and vulnerable users to risks they don’t fully comprehend.

Learning from the ground up

A more honest path forward for blockchain lies in building systems prioritizing human understanding over transaction speed and community benefit over individual gain. Technology alone cannot deliver dignity. It must be paired with responsible development and meaningful education.

True financial dignity comes from the applied combination of knowledge and agency. It’s visible when a grandmother in rural India uses a crypto wallet over a bank-backed digital payments app because she understands its purpose and message, not because someone told her to. It emerges when a young entrepreneur in Johannesburg can participate in the global economy equally, knowing precisely what they’re doing and why.

What’s particularly striking is how this knowledge spreads through communities. A small study group of crypto users could quickly evolve into a local knowledge hub, where experienced users mentor newcomers, sharing technical skills and financial wisdom passed down through generations. This kind of inclusivity is common throughout blockchain circles.

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Grassroots and community-led initiatives often prove more effective than formal training programs because they root new technology in a local context and cultural understanding. When it is a community delivering the education to its own people, the knowledge is passed on with greater dignity and respect. 

Building human-first systems

The crypto industry’s tendency toward hype and speculation threatens to overshadow these more profound benefits. We need platforms that speak human language, not tech jargon. We need systems that protect as they empower and communities that support as they grow. This means rethinking how we design crypto platforms from the ground up. 

Instead of starting with technical capabilities, we should begin by asking human questions. How do people in different communities understand and use money? What are their fears and aspirations? What cultural factors influence their financial decisions? 

By embedding these human insights into our technical solutions, we can only create systems that truly serve everyone, not just the technically savvy or financially privileged. If we fail to address valid concerns about accessibility and regulations, the skeptics who dismiss crypto will only be given more fuel.

Wealth isn’t just money; it’s knowledge, dignity and connection. At its best, crypto embodies these values. It’s more than a technology. It’s a tool to empower, educate and unite.

The industry should champion truthfulness and excellence, ensuring crypto serves all, not a privileged few. A future where money, at last, means something more.

Opinion by: Badi Sudhakaran, co-founder, VALR.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.