In the sphere of digital currency there is a specific genre of imbecile called a “blockhead”. The word itself is recognized by most modern dictionaries as meaning a stupid person. In the context of digital currencies, its etymology is derived from the ‘block’ in blockchain and serves to describe a person who displays not only ignorance on the complexities of digital currencies and its attendant fields of cryptography, finance, monetary policy, internet markets (black and white), coding and general technology. No, a blockhead displays a special type of digital ignorance. A bold, confident and loud ignorance.

Blockheads think they have things pretty figured out.

They’re like a drunk person but they’re not drunk. Dense, unaware, unable to comprehend anything beyond surface level concepts, yet claim omniscience on the most sophisticated tiers of knowledge. Blockheads use their birthdate in their email password. They speak in talking points. They’re the trolls of forums who find satisfaction in bragging that they read an article 2 hours prior.

All of us have had acute episodes of blockheadedness, like forgetting to disable message notifications when with a girlfriend. Or ‘replying all’ to an email full of digs at one of the recipients. Maybe you’ve left a browser window open with NSFW content while at W. These are forgivable offenses.

The chronic blockhead is a menace plaguing the community we love. They should be called out as such.





There is a spectrum of blockheads, and there is also a taxonomy of blockheads. The innocuous makes an occasional Facebook post that might include the phrases ‘too the moon’ , ‘revolution’, ‘100% anonymous’. The more toxic species have oft-updated YouTube channels and plenty of time ‘off work’ to antagonize well-intentioned Reddit posters.

One of the worst kind of blockhead is one that is spreading wrong information, the Misinformed Blockhead (often coming in the form of professors or talk show experts). Then there’s the Criminal Blockhead (see: Force or Gustafson), the Exuberant Blockhead (Bitcoin will end world poverty), and the Libertarian Blockhead (who believes government cannot regulate Bitcoin, as opposed to the rational Libertarian who believes governments should not regulate Bitcoin). The Open Ledger is discovering new species every week.

We as a community should seek out and calmly deal with these characters. Do you have a tip on a blockhead? Send us their information on our 24-hour blockhead hotline.