In this article I will briefly mention movements based on technology, privacy rights (encryption) against mass surveillance. Some are very well known and born in the 80s and 90s (Cyberpunk and Cypherpunk), others are more recent (Solarpunk and Lunarpunk). At the base of everything, the use of web3 technologies to defend the privacy rights of each individual. This article is also related to the arrest of the founder of Telegram (Pavel Durov), which took place in France on August 24, 2024. His crime is having created a technology that facilitates privacy, the exchange of messages and material through a social messaging system. These currents fight precisely freedom and privacy. The upgrade of Bitcoin compared to classic P2P systems is the anonymity of Satoshi Nakamoto (otherwise he would have been arrested too).

CYBERPUNK
Cyberpunk is a fantasy subgenre that developed in the 80s. It imagines a dystopian future, characterized by a strong presence of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, cybernetics and cyberspace (global networks), but also by social, political and environmental degradation. Cyberpunk settings are often metropolitan, dark with neon lights, with a marked division between rich and poor, and a sense of anarchy and rebellion. The protagonists of Cyberpunk are often antiheroes who live on the margins of society, in a world dominated by powerful corporations.

Main themes:
-Urban decay
-Power of multinationals
-Technological alienation
-Rebellion and anarchy

Known examples (literature, films/TV series and videogames):
-Novels: "Neuromancer" by William Gibson
-Film: Blade Runner by Ridley Scott
-TV series: Altered Carbon
-Videogames: Cyberpunk 2077

It is a genre that places technology at the basis of its principles but it is a literary genre. In Cyberpunk, the protagonists often rebel against oppressive and technologically advanced systems, such as powerful corporations or authoritarian states. This rebellion often manifests itself through the use of advanced technologies Hacking and Cyberattacks. Here, technology is often represented in an ambivalent way: it can be a weapon in the hands of power (dystopian force), but also a means of counterattack for individuals. Technology in Cyberpunk is advanced, pervasive, and can lead to extreme situations, such as human-machine fusion (Cyberware) or Cyberspace.

CYPHERPUNK
Cypherpunk refers to a movement born in the 90s, which promotes the use of cryptography and privacy-oriented technologies as fundamental tools for social change and the protection of individual rights. The movement was born from the dystopian and decadent vision introduced by Cybepunk. Cypherpunk is based on the idea that privacy is a fundamental human right and that cryptographic technologies can help defend it against mass surveillance. The movement was born thanks to a group of tech activists and hackers who communicated via mailing lists to discuss cryptography, information security, and digital privacy. The word "Cypherpunk" is a combination of "Cipher" (cipher, in reference to cryptography) and the musical genre "Punk", which recalls the rebellious and anti-authoritarian attitude typical of these movements. Their influence has been instrumental in shaping an Internet where privacy is possible, even in an era of increasing global surveillance. For further information: A Cypherpunk's Manifesto (1993)

Core principles:
-Encryption is essential to preserve free speech and privacy
-Individuals have the right to communicate anonymously and securely
-Encryption and privacy technologies should be developed and used to counter government surveillance and censorship

The impact of this movement has led to the creation of technologies such as:
-PGP (Pretty Good Privacy): an email encryption software developed by Phil Zimmermann in 1991, widely used to protect communications.
-TOR: an online anonymity system that allows users to surf the web anonymously on decentralized networks (Darknet).
-Bitcoin: Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, was influenced by the ideas of the Cypherpunk movement. Bitcoin is the first decentralized cryptocurrency, designed to be secure and resistant to censorship. During the 2008 crisis, on October 31, 2008, an email was sent to the Cypherpunk mailing list: "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Cash System (2008)". This structure promised peer-to-peer, secure, fast, immutable, and low-cost transfers, offering possibilities that were completely new at the time. The Bitcoin whitepaper was influenced by many ideas and the Cypherpunk movement that preceded it. The Cypherpunk philosophy is based on the idea that privacy should not be granted by a central authority, but rather achieved and protected through technology. Cypherpunks do not trust institutions to protect individual rights and believe that technology can be a form of individual power against the state and corporations.

"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age.

We cannot expect governments, corporations or other large organizations to grant us privacy;

we must defend it ourselves"

As mentioned, born after Cyberpunk and also focused on computers and networks, in this case we are talking about an activist movement and not a literary/cultural one, focused above all on freedom and privacy against government control. Technology is seen as a means to protect the rights of the individual. 

SOLARPUNK
Solarpunk was born in opposition to the dystopian visions of Cyberpunk. It represents a utopian future where humanity has managed to live in harmony with nature through the use of sustainable technologies and renewable energy. These communities are often cooperative, eco-friendly and decentralized, with a strong sense of community and respect for the environment. Solarpunk aesthetics are bright, colorful, with buildings covered in plants and technologies that integrate nature instead of exploiting it.

Main themes:
-Environmental sustainability and renewable energy
-Cooperative communities
-Technological optimism

Solarpunk promotes a vision of the future where local communities are self-sufficient (imagine DAO in Proof Of Stake) and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and equity. In this context, decentralized technologies, such as cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based platforms (part of web3), can be seen as tools to realize these visions.
Cryptocurrencies could be used to facilitate local economies or to finance community projects without depending on traditional centralized institutions. This aligns with the Solarpunk ideal of reducing dependence on large centers of economic and political power.
One of the potential applications of blockchains in the Solarpunk context is the creation of decentralized networks, where locally produced renewable energy (such as from solar panels) can be used to secure the use of these technologies (a clear example is Bitcoin, which uses mainly renewable energy). Too positive/optimistic idealization of reality is considered too utopian.

LUNARPUNK
This even more recent subgenre can be considered a sort of "Dark Side" of Solarpunk. While Solarpunk focuses on a sustainable future on Earth, Lunarpunk explores the possibility of human life on other celestial bodies, such as the Moon or Mars. This aesthetic focuses on the cosmos and the use of advanced technologies to adapt to new environments, often with a mystical approach (dim lighting and bare environments, with a mystical touch). Lunarpunk settings can be a mix of futuristic architecture integrated into the lunar landscape and organic technologies.

Main themes:
-Space exploration
-Alien survival and adaptation
-Cosmic spirituality
-Connection with the cosmos

Privacy in the Lunarpunk context could be extended not only to the protection of personal data, but also to the protection of individual and collective sovereignty in new extraterrestrial or digital environments. Lunarpunk explores the possibility of colonizing and adapting to new worlds, such as the Moon or Mars. In this context, Bitcoin and web3 technologies could be used to create autonomous economies, which are not dependent on terrestrial economic structures. These economies could operate on decentralized, censorship-resistant and smart contract-based models. They generally oppose surveillance capitalism with privacy enhancements provided by zero-knowledge proof (zk-Knowledge Proof) variants on specific blockchain technologies (DeFi, DAO, NFT). Among the main authors for example Rachel-Rose O'Leary.
They compare the world of the Internet to an unsupervised digital forest, using tools such as cryptography. In the current conditions, they are identified as crypto-anarchists. Using autonomous systems such as DAO and peer-to-peer (P2P) organizational tools, they aim to make the Internet more efficient believing that technology is actively involved in the governance and future of non-state systems.

Are you interested in ways to earn crypto bonus? Check it out here: Some Sites To Earn Crypto Bonus (Old & New)