Felix Fritsch Defends His PhD on "Emergence of the Crypto Commons"

We’re excited to share that Felix Fritsch, co-founder of the commons hub, has successfully defended his PhD dissertation on "Emergence of the Crypto Commons: Navigating Socio-Technical Affordances and Ideological Tensions on the Blockchain" at Scuola Normale Superiore. He received his doctor title cum laude. We congratulate Felix for this milestone and his contributions to the broader evolution of the crypto commons movement!

The dissertation explores the emergence of crypto commons as a novel approach to collective resource stewardship enabled by Blockchain technology. Three research questions are discussed: What are Blockchain’s affordances for crypto commons governance? How do crypto commoners navigate ideological tensions between Blockchain’s libertarian principles and the communal values of the commons? And, what is the political economy of crypto commons and how does it affect their shared governance? As part of the dissertation, two case studies are examined; the Token Engineering Commons (TEC), and Regenerative Finance (ReFi).

This research establishes the crypto commons as a distinct object of inquiry, offering practical insights to crypto commoners seeking to bridge the gap between ambitious visions and limited empirical examples. It supports the recognition of Blockchain’s emerging role in sociopolitical struggles and promotes a shift toward a regenerative political economy centred on the commons.

This celebratory moment concludes six years of intense research into the crypto commons movement. Felix has been at the forefront of this transformative space, contributing not only as a scholar but also as a builder. He founded and led the Crypto Commons Association and commons hub, which have been instrumental in fostering collaboration and innovation within the movement, and organized numerous events such as the Crypto Commons Gatherings 2021 – 2024. Over time, his engagement has brought together numerous visionaries, activists, and technologists to co-create and expand the crypto commons.

Would you like to learn from his groundbreaking insights?

Download the first chapter of the dissertation: Introduction

To receive the entire work, please reach out!