Overview: The cryptocurrency part of the blockchain sector seems to be “speed-running the history of finance”: rediscovering fundamental truths about asset bubbles, liquidity reserves, derivative market leverage, and bank chartering but at an extraordinarily accelerated pace.  Another and more surprising comparison, however, is between blockchain trajectories and religious history. But the comparison is apt: like an emergent religion, the crypto sector relies on collective ideologies, shared identities, and ritual performances to create and bind networks that aspire to global acceptance, and then dominance. 

Our workshop will explore this second comparison by taking a look at some parallels between certain religious histories and the development of contemporary financial technology. A main goal is to examine historical precedents for contemporary blockchain-sector phenomena, precedents that may predict future developments and provide ethical guidance — especially in new contexts where power is being dispersed and decentralized.  

We also hope to seed future DeCenter programming and research by providing opportunities for social scientists, ethicists, historians, and other humanists to interact with engineers, blockchain experts, and industry participants.

The workshop is limited to 30 participants and, with the exception of the public panel, is by invitation only.  Priority will be given to Princeton faculty and graduate students.  A limited number of graduate fellowships will be available for follow-on research in Summer 2026.  Those who are interested in attending are welcome to write to decenter@princeton.edu.