Vanity Fair Interviews With Crypto Heavyweights Spark Controversy Over ‘Most Expensive Religion’ Portrayal

Vanity Fair traces cryptocurrency’s transformation from an anti-establishment ideal into a mainstream asset through the lens of “the most expensive religion.” The market’s total value surged from $16 billion to $535 billion in 2017, while the industry contributed another $135 million to political campaigns in 2024. By featuring believers including ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, the article highlights tensions among ideology, wealth and political interests.

The feature was published on March 17, 2026. A day earlier, NFT platform OpenSea cited poor market conditions as it postponed the SEA token launch originally scheduled for March 30, without setting a new date. The original plan allocated 50% of the supply to the community. On March 18, CEO Devin Finzer pushed back against the narrative that his wife supported him financially, saying Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo had independently run a digital-asset business since 2011 and that the team continued to build.