Creationists often cite the human eye as evidence for a supernatural designer. Their argument is that the human eye is an complex organ requiring many distinct parts all working together in order to properly function. Take even one of these parts away, and the eye becomes totally useless. It is "irreducible complex".
What they fail to realize is that at each stage in the eye's evolution it took on a different function, and yet, always remained the best tool for whatever function it took on. Remove 50,000 parts and the eye functions beautifully to help inform primitive organisms when to release sperm/eggs for maximum fertility. Remove another 50,000 parts and the eye works beautifully to inform microorganisms when to sync to daily circadian rhymes.
The important point here is that at no stage in the eye's evolution was it a useless organ with zero application. At no point was it building its resources up, so that one day (once mass adoption or some future technical advancement occurred) it would flourish.
Today the crypto-space is filled with ICO's professing grandiose visions.
Yet these projects can only find success in their grandest form.
They are irreducibly complex.
Facebook is a prime example of a company whose organic evolution (being the best at each stage) allowed it to reach its current success.
1) Facebook was first adopted by a dorm building at Harvard University. Everyone in the building had it. It was the best for a small group of people as a means to network with their dorm mates.
2) Facebook was then adopted by the school body at Harvard University. Everyone at the school had it. It was the best tool for those attending the school to network with their fellow students.
3) Facebook was then adopted by several universities....you get the idea.
When looking to invest into a new cryptocurrency look for ways in which it can be used during the transition to its ultimate goal. The fact that Ethereum has almost immediately found application as a platform to raise money is very promising. It demonstrates organic development following the framework of biological evolution.
My advice:
Stay away from projects that require their end goals to be met in order to reach their end goals.
Avoid irreducibly complex projects!
Great article. I especially like the part about eyes.