Check out my new piece -> A New Age of Crypto-Authoritarianism in Current History.

It is now open access!

online.ucpress.edu/currenthisto...

Today I got my copy of Authoritarian Consolidation in Times of Crisis, edited by @jpolga.bsky.social and Raúl Sánchez Urribarrí.

A nice present in troubled times.

Thanks to the editors for their amazing work and to @benedictebull.bsky.social and Manuel Sutherland for awesome team effort.

And I got it!!

So happy be taking Jenn Clapp’s book from ISA’s book exhibition ☺️🤓☺️

@jennifer-clapp.bsky.social

Bitcoin's use for authoritarian governance is important for future analyses on the rise and expansion of far right forces in Latin America and beyond. Cryptos can serve as tools to embrace libertarian and radical free market ideas but can be tied to illiberal conservatism and reactionary politics.

Crucially, the bitcoin policy functions as a conduit for favouring cronies close to the president with the use of public funds, through the establishment of the government-funded Chivo wallet company.

In 2021, the president of El Salvador Nayib Bukele announced that the country would adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. This was justified to promote financial inclusion, increasing remittance flows, and enhancing development.

How did this turn out?
🧵
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Milei caught in the middle of a crypto rug pull

Argentine Leader Draws Fire After Cratering of Crypto Coin He Promoted www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/w...

This reckless and unconstitutional provision of Trump's executive order could render stateless millions.

Post a picture you took (no description) to bring some zen to the timeline

Poor miners and empty e-wallets: Latin American experiences with cryptocurrencies in crisis

With Eva van Roekel, Pete Howson & Coco Kanters, building on the cases of and field research in El Salvador and Venezuela. Open access in Human Geography #polisky
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Important work! A key takeaway: governments must stop finding ways to subsidize oil and gas, however well-meaning some initiatives may sound.