I admit I don't know much about crypto, but I have some observations and a few questions. And I want Y'all to correct me if these "observations" are not correct, and, maybe if you can, answer my questions:
1) Seems the original idea was to use crypto to facilitate commerce below the radar, so to speak. Kinda like deal'n in cash and having any government reporting obligations conveniently slip your mind.
2) But did the increasing cost of "mining" new "coins" cause the value of the coins to increase? Did that attract investor types and increase demand? And did that, in turn, attract the trader types and cause the volatility that makes crypto useful for gambler sorts -- more politely said: "speculators"?
3) Now, it seems to me, that other than for transactions flying below radar, crypto is kinda useless for its originally intended purpose, i.e. darkfield commerce. I mean how are you going to buy and sell goods or services using a "currency" that fluctuates wildly in buying power from one moment to the next? (Or is that what "stablecoins" are really about?)