Tariq Meyers

On Oct. 31, 2008, while the United States and global economy were deep in the financial crisis, a white paper published by an author known as Satoshi Nakamoto would make its way around the world and give birth to a movement centered on economic independence for all. It would propose a new system of money: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system that didn’t depend on big banks and private parties to function but gave power and the promise of financial freedom back to the communities that needed it most. In 2012, it would also inspire a set of co-founders to begin what would become the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., Coinbase. However, this isn’t where the story begins for me. Growing up, I always thought my grandad looked like a king in his castle. As I would sit and listen to his stories, I imagined they would go on forever in the house that embodied the decades of hard work and sacrifice he endured to achieve the American Dream. “One day, this house will be yours,” he...