Includes bibliographical references (pages 246-272) and index.

Banking the unbanked -- The crypto colonists -- Green wash trading -- Bad samaritans -- Bloke chains -- For betterverse or metaworse -- A world without Web3.

Provides an exposé of the huge social, political and environmental costs of cryptocurrencies. The subject of immense hope, hype, and confusion, crypto has amassed countless headlines in recent years. With cryptocurrencies, NFTs and metaverse markets crashing, the underlying blockchain technology is still promised to solve global development challenges, whilst revolutionizing every industry. But is the technology really a silver bullet? In this volume, Howson puts blockchain, cryptocurrency and 'Web3' under the microscope like never before and he tells an alarming story of how right-wing libertarian crypto entrepreneurs - often aided by charities, politicians, and philanthropists - seek out and exploit conditions of poverty, oppression, corruption, and conflict. Their goal? A new front of 'crypto-colonial' extractivism. Howson reveals the alarming truth: far from 'banking the unbanked', saving the gorillas, or freeing people from oppressive governments, blockchain offers only false solutions, surveillance, and hi-tech snake oil. --From publisher's description.