Technology is neutral—what matters is the framework around it. Build systems with proper checks and balances, transparency, and distributed governance, you get tools that empower users. Strip away those safeguards and guardrails? Then the same tech becomes an instrument of surveillance and control. This is why decentralization matters so much in crypto. It's not just about efficiency—it's about who holds the power. The difference between a liberating protocol and a dystopian one often comes down to architecture and intent.