Original Title: Why Crypto is the Scientology of Financial Markets
Original Author: @therosieum
Original Translation: zhouzhou, BlockBeats
Editor's Note: This article compares cryptocurrency to Scientology in the financial world, pointing out that both utilize faith, terminology, hierarchies, and fear to maintain their groups. They promise freedom but create new systems of control. Followers participate not through understanding but through belief, while skeptics are excluded, and failures are blamed on individuals. Essentially, they are "modern cults" cloaked in technology or science, maintaining influence by manipulating human weaknesses, ultimately becoming another unquestionable power structure.
The following is the original content (reorganized for readability):
Cryptocurrency is the "Scientology" of Financial Markets
The financial world has its own "religion," and cryptocurrency is the most successful "cult" among them.
This is not a sensational remark. Scientology (a fantasy cult founded by a science fiction writer) and cryptocurrency both emerged at times when people lost trust in the existing systems.
After World War II, traditional religions seemed boring and outdated, leading to the rise of Scientology. After the 2008 financial crisis, people realized that banks were deceiving them, and thus cryptocurrency was born.
They grew rapidly because they provided what people desperately needed: a sense of belonging, a faith goal, and that "secret knowledge" that makes one feel "special." Interestingly, their methods of dissemination are almost identical: using the same brainwashing techniques and psychological manipulation.
Why is this important? Let's break it down.
Belief over understanding: "Trust me, bro"
No one really reads the white papers.
Just as no one truly reads "Dianetics" (the classic work of Scientology) from start to finish, many crypto believers love to mention white papers, but they haven't actually read them. The core logic of both circles is: "I don't need to understand, I just believe."
They rely more on "testimonials":
"Bro, my investment multiplied tenfold!"
It's like "Scientology cured my depression!"
And these miracle stories usually come from rumors about your friend's cousin's roommate.
Cool Kids Club
Not on our side? Then you are against us (and poor and stupid).
Whether it's Scientology or the crypto circle, both excel at creating an atmosphere where outsiders seem to have missed something "obvious." Scientology has its "Operating Thetans," while the crypto circle has "diamond-handed HODLers." One of the favorite things for these two groups to do is to constantly remind you: you are not one of us.
Terms like "mooning," "rugging," and "FUD" (fear, uncertainty, doubt) in the crypto world are not meant to make things easier to understand, but to distinguish the "awakened" from the ordinary people. After all, one of the hallmarks of a cult is developing its own language system.
And once you express doubt, trouble arises.
"Have fun staying poor" is the crypto circle's equivalent of Scientology's "suppressive person" label. Translated, it means: "This heretic questioned our doctrine and must be expelled!"
Doomsday Insurance
The world is about to end, but conveniently, we have the only antidote.
Scientology claims that psychiatry is destroying humanity; crypto claims that central banks are destroying civilization. Both systems cleverly package themselves as the only lifeboat in times of great disaster.
The prophecy of "when fiat currency collapses" in the crypto circle drags on like religious doomsday prophecies. The dollar's collapse is always "just around the corner" (it has been for the past 14 years).
And every time the "imminent apocalypse" is announced, it demands that you spend money right now.
Interestingly, the so-called "salvation" always requires you to swipe your card to obtain it.
Everything is for the course
There’s always the next level, just pay a little more.
The most obvious similarity between crypto and Scientology is—paid courses.
Scientology's path is: free personality test → basic courses → OT levels 1 to 8, each stage more expensive.
Crypto's scheme is: free videos → $47 introductory course → $997 "advanced strategies" → $25,000 to join the "real alpha masterclass."
These sales pitches never change: "The reason you aren't making money is that you haven't learned the next layer of secrets."
Ironically, many "mentors" make their real money not from the strategies they teach, but from—selling courses.
The funniest part is that those who have purchased courses often become the most fervent promoters, because admitting the course was useless equates to admitting they were scammed.
Failed? That's your problem.
The system is flawless; the only error is yours.
Got scammed by a "rug pull"? That's because you didn't do your homework. Scientology's techniques didn't work? That's because you used the wrong methods.
Both Scientology and the crypto circle excel at a technique: victim-blaming. The system is always right; the fault lies in your lack of effort, belief, or understanding.
"DYOR (Do Your Own Research)" is the crypto circle's version of "keep paying for courses until you succeed."
Interestingly, responsibility always flows in one direction:
Things going well? That's because the system is effective.
Things going poorly? That's because you didn't execute properly, didn't understand enough, or didn't have enough faith.
Science fiction writers excel at making things up
Wrapping non-scientific concepts in scientific jargon.
The founder of Scientology was originally a science fiction writer (he even said, "The fastest way to make money is to start a religion"). Like Scientology, crypto enjoys donning a "scientific cloak," but the content often makes real scientists want to spit out their coffee.
Scientology has "E-meters" and "engrams"; the crypto circle has "cryptography" and "consensus algorithms." These terms are not meant to facilitate understanding but to instill fear of questioning—because not understanding makes you seem "unworthy of understanding."
"This is too complex to explain" has become their universal excuse to evade verification. If you don't understand, that's your problem, not theirs for proposing absurd claims like "Scientologists" or "trustless systems."
Crypto version of "Hotel California": You can "leave the group" at any time, but you can never truly escape.
To be clear: the cost of leaving Scientology is indeed much higher. This organization is notorious for its extreme surveillance, isolation, and attacks on defectors. Families can be torn apart, reputations destroyed, and the real-life consequences are severe.
While the crypto circle is not as extreme, it has its own "mental prison." Once you exit a project or sell your holdings, you will immediately be labeled a "soft-handed shrimp," "fool," or even "traitor." "Have fun staying poor" is not just a meme; it's a way for the community to maintain loyalty.
Many stay not because they truly believe, but out of fear of missing out, fear of ridicule, or fear of admitting they were wrong.
In both systems, "continuing to believe" is often much easier than "choosing to leave."
Conclusion:
The future of blockchain may indeed be useful, just as some believe Scientology's "auditing" process has helped them.
But the problem is: these two communities have long since evolved from "useful tools" into "full-fledged belief organizations."
This comparison strikes a chord not only because of the many similarities but also because they both massively exploit the same psychological weaknesses in humans—the desire for control, belonging, and the craving for "special powers."
They both attempt to bypass traditional "gatekeepers" (whether religious or financial institutions), promising to give you a shortcut to "change your destiny."
Their approach to questioning is also identical: not responding with facts, but countering with emotions. Not debating with you, but brainwashing you; not persuading you, but converting you.
The most ironic part is—both Scientology and the crypto circle emerged under the banner of "liberating you from corrupt systems," only to establish an even more opaque and unaccountable new system.
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