Thank you, Tomas, for another timely and thoughtful analysis. A few months ago you released a note about the ascendancy of blockchain growing the rival the power of traditional nation states, and a few point-counterpoints evolved in the comments. Now, unfortunately, some of the themes from that conversation has become animated on the wor…
Thank you, Tomas, for another timely and thoughtful analysis. A few months ago you released a note about the ascendancy of blockchain growing the rival the power of traditional nation states, and a few point-counterpoints evolved in the comments. Now, unfortunately, some of the themes from that conversation has become animated on the world stage - and with tragic consequences for many of our fellow travelers. Specifically, the overwhelming advantages in digital and networking pressure that the West can deploy are powerful levers of coercion, but lack the direct "stopping power" of the physical. NATO conventional arms would make short work of Mr. Putin's military, but are unable to fully engage due to the physical stopping power of Mr. Putin's WMD stockpile - just as the Russian brutality of civilians has thus far failed to coerce the cessation of their resistance. I fear that the possession of nuclear weapons becomes something of a "speed of light" limit that constrains the effectiveness of coercion. A man willing to fight on regardless of his broken arm will not be submitted by an arm-bar...
Thank you, Tomas, for another timely and thoughtful analysis. A few months ago you released a note about the ascendancy of blockchain growing the rival the power of traditional nation states, and a few point-counterpoints evolved in the comments. Now, unfortunately, some of the themes from that conversation has become animated on the world stage - and with tragic consequences for many of our fellow travelers. Specifically, the overwhelming advantages in digital and networking pressure that the West can deploy are powerful levers of coercion, but lack the direct "stopping power" of the physical. NATO conventional arms would make short work of Mr. Putin's military, but are unable to fully engage due to the physical stopping power of Mr. Putin's WMD stockpile - just as the Russian brutality of civilians has thus far failed to coerce the cessation of their resistance. I fear that the possession of nuclear weapons becomes something of a "speed of light" limit that constrains the effectiveness of coercion. A man willing to fight on regardless of his broken arm will not be submitted by an arm-bar...