Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm. With the emergence of tech millionaires who made their riches from cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, a new generation of cryptocurrency enthusiasts are rising. And some of them are right here at Trinity.
“If the idea of changing how banking works and get-rich-quick schemes sounds cool or interesting at all, you should come check us out,” said Kenny McLaren, sophomore and Cryptocurrency Club member.
“[I] just wanted to get people into crypto,” said sophomore Nathan Horn.
Horn’s internship over the summer and his father’s support inspired him to start his club here on campus.
Horn and McLaren started the club this year as a way to educate Trinity students about cryptocurrency.
“The majority of [Trinity students] don’t know too much about crypto,” McLaren said.
Cryptocurrency is a decentralized digital currency. This means that it’s not based in anything physical and isn’t controlled by one entity. So unlike the U.S. dollar, which is backed by the Federal Reserve, cryptocurrency acts independently of a central bank.
The “crypto” in cryptocurrency describes the security and verification needed during digital currency transactions. Horn explained the secure blockchain technology feature of cryptocurrencies.
“The blockchain is like a train, and the faster it’s going, the harder it is for anyone to hack it, and in order to hack it, a person has to shoot an arrow that’s in a hole that’s 80 feet away,” Horn said.
McLaren thinks it’s important for students to understand cryptocurrency, even if the concept may seem foreign to or distant from their everyday lives.
“I think that lots of people are saying that we’re going to be using crypto instead of real money. … If there’s a chance of that, it’s a good idea to understand it and invest in it,” McLaren said.
The Cryptocurrency Club faces the challenge of generating interest among the student body. They believe some students may be intimidated by the jargon of the tech world.
“[Our goal is to] teach more people about what crypto is, spread information and find ways to get rich quick,” McLaren said.
McLaren also mentioned that members of the club will play accessible games like Steem Monsters.
Even the humanities have a place in the Trinity Cryptocurrency club.
“One of the aspects that’s less technical is the human side of what cryptocurrency might do. Like how would it change how we think about money and interact with people,” McLaren said.
Some Trinity students showed interest in participating in a crypto club on campus.
“Since the rise of bitcoin, I’ve heard a lot about [cryptocurrency], and I know there’s quite a few countries trying to create their own cryptocurrencies, like Korea,” said first-year JinYoung Jang.
Though the club isn’t official yet and meetings are not set in stone, students interested in joining the cryptocurrency club can email Nathan Horn at [email protected] to be added to the club GroupMe. Students can also play Steem Monsters with the club by following the QR code seen on bulletin boards around campus.
