A New Era of Politics and Technology: The Prelude to the Transformation of Capitalism

With Trump likely to be elected president again, the connection between Crypto, Web3, and real-world politics has entered a new phase. In addition to a series of key appointments on the surface, the influence of some key figures behind the scenes cannot be ignored, including Peter Thiel.

Peter Thiel is not only a co-founder of PayPal, a well-known venture capitalist, and an important figure in Silicon Valley, but he also plays a low-key yet highly influential role on the political stage. If Elon Musk is the main character in this election, then Peter Thiel is more like the strategist behind the scenes; his influence may determine the voice and decision-making participation of future tech capital in American and even global politics.

Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance: The Intersection of Technology and Politics

In 2011, Peter Thiel criticized society's blind adherence to traditional career paths during a speech at Yale Law School, emphasizing that technological innovation should address real-world problems. This statement deeply influenced J.D. Vance, a student present at the time, prompting him to rethink his career plans.

Influenced by Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance abandoned his traditional legal career to join Thiel's venture capital firm and began to venture into the field of venture capital. During this time, Vance wrote the memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which describes his upbringing in a working-class family in Ohio. The book quickly became a bestseller after its publication and was seen as revealing the mindset of Trump supporters.

Interestingly, as Trump's vice president today, Vance initially held a critical attitude towards Trump. However, under the recommendation of Peter Thiel, Vance gradually established a connection with Trump. Thiel not only arranged meetings between the two but also provided significant support for Vance's political career, including donating $15 million to the political action committee supporting Vance.

With Thiel's support, Vance was successfully elected as a Senator from Ohio in 2022 and was chosen by Trump as his running mate for the vice presidential campaign in 2024. This reflects Thiel's key role in shaping Vance's political career and highlights the influence of some conservative forces in Silicon Valley in American politics.

Internal Struggles of Capitalism: The Contest between New and Old Forces

This year's U.S. presidential election is more like the prelude to a power reshuffle within capitalism. The "new forces" represented by the Silicon Valley tech elite are challenging the "old forces" represented by Wall Street, vying for greater discourse and profit-sharing rights.

The rise of Silicon Valley's new elite is no coincidence. Over the past decade, emerging fields represented by AI and Crypto have become the engines of economic growth. These emerging industries emphasize efficiency, innovation, and decentralization, calling for "less regulation" as a common demand. From Web3 to AI, "decentralization" and "liberalization" have become their core narratives, and this vision is simple yet attractive: higher technological efficiency, more capital flow, and even the potential to redefine the rules of wealth creation.

However, this path of liberalization and deregulation will inevitably further strengthen the advantageous position of tech giants and capital giants. Technologies such as AI and Crypto will more efficiently concentrate wealth, accelerating the widening gap between the rich and the poor, while also further marginalizing the interests of traditional industrial workers, who form Trump's basic support base. This inherent contradiction may become a deep-seated driving force for the future fragmentation of American society.

Key Decisions for the Future: Balancing Old and New Powers

In the long run, whether the American political and economic system can find a balance between the "new forces" and the "old forces" will directly determine the ultimate direction of this power reshuffle. For the "old forces," they need to adapt more flexibly to the social changes brought about by new technologies, while also defending their core position in rule-making. As for the "new forces," they need to persuade a broader society to accept the costs of wealth redistribution brought about by technological expansion.

The outcome of this struggle is not only related to the political and economic landscape of the United States but will also profoundly impact the future direction of global capitalism. A new era characterized by more globalized and technology-driven capital is approaching, and its key lies in how to redefine the distribution patterns of power, resources, and rules.

Crypto and AI will undoubtedly be the main battleground. The entire Crypto field is not only a symbol of decentralized finance and capital liberalization but also a key tool for technological capital to counter traditional finance and reshape the rules.

The future is full of opportunities, whether in AI, Crypto, or other emerging fields, their core narratives remain attractive: freedom, efficiency, and innovation. This process will also test whether all parties can find a compromise amidst conflicting interests.

From the election to the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, what we see is not just an election, but a contest over the rules of the future. This is destined to be a profound struggle over resources, power, and rules, and it is also a microcosm of the transformation of global capitalism.