Introduction to the Discontent
On March 24, Cardano (ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson took to YouTube, voicing his frustrations about Wikipedia’s alleged arbitrary censorship against Cardano. It’s like he walked into a bar full of friendly crypto enthusiasts only to find a ‘No Cardano Allowed’ sign at the door.
The Historical Context of Crypto Censorship
Censorship in the cryptocurrency realm is about as old as Bitcoin itself. Remember Satoshi Nakamoto? Back in 2010, even the elusive Bitcoin creator was left scratching their virtual head when Wikipedia editors repeatedly removed Bitcoin’s entry. Talk about a digital identity crisis!
- In a twist of irony, after PayPal cut ties with WikiLeaks, a Bitcoin enthusiast had the bright idea of turning Bitcoin into the site’s donation darling. Spoiler alert: Satoshi was not a fan.
- Satoshi’s parting words were a warning against heavy-handedness:
“The project needs to grow gradually so the software can be strengthened along the way.”
Comparing the Coins: Cardano vs. SpankChain
Fast forward to today, and Hoskinson is left baffled by Wikipedia’s selective memory. Why does the renowned SpankChain have its own article, while Cardano, noted by U.S. Congress, is stuck in the Wikipedia waiting room?
“We don’t know why there’s hostility… a lot of other cryptocurrencies and top 15, top 20 apparently have articles, and that’s perfectly fine.”
The Great Wiki Mystery
Cointelegraph, the self-appointed crypto sleuths, couldn’t find any mention of SpankChain on Wikipedia, but projects like Dogecoin and GridCoin have no such issues. So, at this point, one has to wonder: Is there an underground Wikipedia club that decides which coins get to party?
The English Editor Dilemma
According to Hoskinson, the issue seems to stem solely from Wikipedia’s English language editors. Apparently, other languages like German or Russian seem more open-minded about Cardano. Maybe it’s time for an international crypto road show!
Why This Matters
In today’s digital age, where information can make or break a crypto project, censorship feels particularly egregious from an encyclopedic platform that accepts Bitcoin donations to fund its mission of a free online encyclopedia.
Let’s hope Wikipedia sorts out its editorial differences before we all find ourselves in a world where only the coolest coins get the spotlight while others are invisibly wedged in the shadows.
