Author: Twone
Cryptography is an ancient discipline closely related to the confidentiality and transmission of information.
From simple substitution ciphers to complex modern encryption algorithms, the progress of cryptography has not only driven technological development, but also laid the foundation for privacy protection and information security in the digital age.
In the early 21st century, with the concept of Bitcoin proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto, cryptography found a new stage - cryptocurrency. This is not only a technological innovation, but also a challenge to the existing financial system and social structure.
Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology to ensure the security and transparency of transactions through decentralized networks, challenging the monopoly of traditional banks and financial institutions. More importantly, it raises a question:
What is the foundation of wealth, power, and trust in modern society?
In this exploration, cryptography and cryptocurrency have become tools for social change. They are not only technological innovations, but also the pursuit of freedom, equality, and decentralization. The rise of cryptocurrencies has promoted financial democratization, allowing millions of people without bank accounts worldwide to access the financial system. At the same time, it has also sparked deep thinking on issues such as privacy rights, digital identity, and internet governance.
April 23rd is World Book Day.
This is a good opportunity for us to look back on this history and reflect on the impact of cryptography and cryptocurrency on society. Through reading, we can not only understand the principles behind these technologies, but also deeply think about how they shape our world and affect our lives. Let us explore the deeper meaning behind all of this today, with the power of books, and think about how we can participate in this ongoing social change.
On World Book Day, we are organizing a retrospective exhibition with the theme "Cryptography and Cryptocurrency: Writing the Social Change of the Digital Age". Through reading and sharing, let us witness together how cryptographic technology and the ideology of cryptography shape our world and reshape trust in the digital age.
Book/Article Title: "The Cryptopians"
The Cryptopians[1]
Recommended by: K
Review:
"The recent growth of crypto would have been all but impossible if not for a brilliant young man named Vitalik Buterin and his creation: Ethereum. In this book, Laura Shin takes readers inside the founding of this novel cryptocurrency network, which enabled users to launch their own new coins, thus creating a new crypto fever."
Book/Article Title: "Computer vs. Casino: Crypto's culture war"
Computer vs. Casino: Crypto's culture war[2]
Recommended by: zhoumo & Ada
Book Review: "Geeks and Gamblers: The Cultural War of Cryptocurrency"
Book/Article Title: "Crypto Wars: The Fight for Privacy in the Digital Age: A Political History of Digital Encryption"
Crypto Wars: The Fight for Privacy in the Digital Age: A Political History of Digital Encryption[3]
Recommended by: K
Review:
The author, Craig Jarvis, describes the development history and important historical events of encryption technology starting from the 1970s.
Book/Article Title: "Auguste Kerckhoffs Biography"
Auguste Kerckhoffs Biography[4]
Recommended by: Twone
Review:
"Who was the first to propose the cryptographic ideas that have had such a profound impact on modern society? Usually, people think of Shannon, the founder of modern cryptography, whose "Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems" based on information theory assumes that the enemy knows the system when analyzing its security. However, the "enemy knows the system" is just Shannon's refinement and summary of the ideas of his predecessors. The true inventor is Auguste Kerckhoffs, a 19th-century linguist and cryptographer."
Book/Article Title: "Cypherpunks: Freedom & the Future of the Internet"
Cypherpunks[7]
Recommended by: K & Larri
Review by K:
"Unlike 1984, which envisioned a dystopian society, this book tells me that I am now living in a dystopian world and calls on us to fight, defend freedom, and be a cypherpunk."
Review by Larri:
Questions discussed in the book "Cypherpunks":
To what extent should we share cultural products for free?
Cancel political donations and directly purchase lobbying rights. How about open rather than criminalizing bribery?
Will not censoring child pornography content promote the solution of real problems?
Does the dystopian society described by Assange bother you personally?
How did Paris or France influence your views on "self-awareness, diversity, and self-determined networks"?
Book/Article Title: "In the Second Depression of the Cypherpunk Movement"
In the Second Depression of the Cypherpunk Movement — coin[8]
Recommended by: Ada
Review:
This short article satirizes the depression of the cypherpunk movement and the disappointment with the ideal society of decentralization. It mocks DeFi, public chains, DAOs, governance, memes, etc.
(Note: Due to space limitations, only part of the content is displayed in this translation. For more details, please visit: https://colib.app/community/59949)
After the above curation, if you are also interested in these contents, we also invite every member of the community to recall the words they have touched in this cryptographic exploration - not only about cryptocurrencies and cryptography, but also books and articles on topics such as cryptographic humanities, communities and societies, creator economy, crypto nomads, AI combined with cryptography, public goods, etc. Those books that have enlightened you, made your thoughts leap, and even changed your view of the world.
You are welcome to share these books or articles in our TG Unlib Community Library channel:
pic made by zhoumo
(Note: Unlib is a sub-brand of the Colib app, incubated by Colib and Uncommons.
Based on the Uncommons cryptographic research community scene, it explores PCF (Product Community Fit) applications that serve the needs of online communities.
The goal is to become a public good that serves the needs of a wider range of online communities, helping more communities build their own "community libraries".)
Like sailors who first sense the breeze, sharing the positions of planets, currents, and storms with each other.
We invite you to enter the realm of cryptography together.
References:
[1] The Cryptopians: https://book.douban.com/subject/35415598/
[2] Computer vs. Casino: Crypto's culture war: https://showerthoughts.substack.com/p/computer-vs-casino-cryptos-culture
[3] Crypto Wars: The Fight for Privacy in the Digital Age: A Political History of Digital Encryption: https://www.routledge.com/Crypto-Wars-The-Fight-for-Privacy-in-the-Digital-Age-A-Political-History-of-Digital-Encryption/Jarvis/p/book/9780367642488
[4] Auguste Kerckhoffs Biography: https://www.primitiveslane.org/post/auguste_kerckhoffs
[5] "Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems": https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~rist/642-spring-2014/shannon-secrecy.pdf
[6] Julian Assange, Jacob Appelbaum etc - Cypherpunks Freedom & the Future of the Internet.pdf (PDFy mirror): https://archive.org/details/pdfy-ekVVZgGOThtG6fXb/page/n169/mode/2up
[7] Cypherpunks: https://book.douban.com/subject/27054249/
[8] "In the Second Depression of the Cypherpunk Movement" - coin: https://coin.mataroa.blog/blog/depression/