The transhumanist movement, of which the extropians are an influential subgroup, imagines a future in which humans merge with machines, transcending biological limitations. Extropians advocate an unwavering faith in technology to enhance our physical and mental abilities, extend our lifespans, and even achieve immortality. Some projects, such as the artificial wombs currently in development, reflect their desire to transform society and the paradigms of human reproduction. Influential figures such as Bill Gates and Dmitri Itskov are investing in research aimed at extending life or transferring human consciousness to digital systems.
Born in the 80s in California, the Extropians, under the influence of Max More and Tom Bell, have forged an ideology that advocates unlimited progress and the continuous self-transformation of the individual. Breaking with the idea of centralized control, they defend a libertarian society, where human relations are governed by free contracts between individuals, without state intervention.
The connection between Extropians and cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, is striking. Their quest for a “hard currency” capable of preserving wealth during periods of cryogenics led them to explore digital currencies as early as the 1990s. Their journal, Extropy, devoted several articles to electronic money, anticipating an economy transformed by cryptography and digital technologies.
Cypherpunks, close to the extropians, share a libertarian vision. Tim May, in his Cryptoanarchist Manifesto, envisioned a society where cryptography would make it possible to bypass surveillance systems and ensure the confidentiality of transactions. The creation of Bitcoin, announced on a mailing list linked to the extropians, reinforces the idea of a convergence between these ideologies. Transhumanist and cypherpunk figures, such as Hal Finney, played a key role in the development and first transaction of Bitcoin.
While Satoshi Nakamoto’s direct involvement in transhumanism is uncertain, Bitcoin’s values of individual freedom and digital immortality are part of this movement. Extropianism and crypto-anarchy may well be the driving forces behind some of the greatest innovations of the 21st century, redefining money and humanity’s relationship with technology.
