Blockchain & Borders - The link between Crypto and Gaza

As those who follow my posts will realise, I have a fairly libertarian viewpoint. I believe that many of the centralised institutions that we have relied upon for so long will be replaced by de-centralised, distributed models.

I think that this will be true for the internet industry, the banking, finance and insurance industries, land registration and perhaps even health, education, transport etc.

All these functions, currently undertaken by centralised bodies and often the government of the nation state, can and likely will, be replaced by de-centralised, distributed models.

However the Nation State itself, and the core functions it performs of defence, law & policing (and consequently some taxation) cannot and will not be replaced as long as humans have physical bodies and helpless infants that need to be protected.

When a thug threatens violence against you and your family, you need a centralised authority with a monopoly on the use of force internally within the state - the Police - to come and protect you.

When a 40,000 strong violent, armed mob comes to invade your territory and kill your children, you need a centralised authority with a monopoly on the use of force externally to the state - the Army - to protect you.

The primary purpose of a nation state is defend its citizens against internal and external threats.

Nation states arose because tribes were no longer big enough to protect their members in an age of modern weapons.
Tribes arose because an extended family cannot both defend its young and provide for them in an age of pre-modern weapons.

Those that think blockchain will replace the Nation State are wrong - They need only visit the Gaza border to see why.