If World War III were to happen, the impact on the global financial system would be profound and unpredictable. Whether crypto would dominate depends on many factors:
- Disruption of traditional systems: A large-scale war could severely disrupt banking, governments, and fiat currency systems, creating a space for decentralized alternatives like cryptocurrencies to gain prominence.
- Infrastructure resilience: Crypto relies on internet and electricity access. If war causes major infrastructure failures, crypto networks might struggle or become inaccessible.
- Government control: In wartime, governments tend to increase financial controls, restrictions, and surveillance, which could limit crypto use or drive it underground — or alternatively, accelerate adoption to bypass controls.
- Trust and stability: People look for safe stores of value in crises. Crypto’s volatility might make it less attractive compared to gold or stable currencies unless stablecoins or government-backed digital currencies take over.
- Geopolitical fragmentation: If global cooperation breaks down, some countries or regions might adopt crypto more aggressively to bypass sanctions or isolate themselves financially.
In short, crypto could play a significant role in a WW3 scenario, but it’s unlikely to fully dominate the financial system immediately. The outcome would depend on how governments, technology, and people respond to the crisis.