Some of the best-argued uses of crypto have a common denominator: scams

CRYPTO has come up frequently in dinner-table conversations of late, as the market continues reeling from recent sell-offs and a spate of bankruptcy filings. Since the stablecoin TerraUSD collapsed in May, several large exchanges and lending firms have filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving clients’ assets trapped in their platforms.

Amid the carnage, friends who are crypto advocates have taken to defending the practical applications of cryptocurrency and its underlying technology.

Among the use cases repeatedly cited are how these digital tokens have helped protect wages and manage cash flow in countries battling hyperinflation, such as Venezuela and Turkey.