As I am sure you are aware, the Bible does not address the issue of cryptocurrency.  This was not an issue in OT or NT times!  For this reason, we will have to approach the question using Bible principles, rather than Bible commandments.

Speaking for myself, I am rather strongly in agreement with Dave Ramsey that Christians ought to be extremely cautious about investing in such speculative items as cryptocurrency.  I have not read his material on this subject, but I am guessing that he would use scriptures such as Proverbs 13:11, in which we are advised, under the inspiration of God, to avoid get-rich quick schemes, but, instead, to let our money grow slowly.  Personally, I do not invest a single cent into cryptocurrencies, and I advise (but only advise!) my friends to avoid it or to go into it with great caution.  Trading in cryptocurrencies is a kind of gambling, and the “currencies” themselves are literally not backed by any hard actual value at all!  I also would rather strongly prefer that any Christian organization I give money to not put that money into cryptocurrencies.

Having said that, and having found pretty strong common ground with you, I want to give voice to those who would not agree with you and with me, as I think there is another “side” to this discussion.  One could argue that putting money into the stock market is also a kind of gambling.  There is a difference in that companies have actual physical assets, but the similarities are at least as great as the differences between stocks and cryptocurrencies.  Yet, I personally put money into the stock market, as I am aware that, over time, my money will VERY likely grow more there than in, for example, a savings account.  And I am not at all bothered if a religious organization I give to invests temporary excess funds in the stock market.  Probably some would say that my investing in the stock market is just as “bad” or even “sinful” as crypto.  I do not agree, but these things fall into a gray area.  In fact, one could argue that even cold, hard, cash, such as the US dollar is not based on actual assets, but on faith in the dollar.  I am guessing that there are some out there (admittedly a bit radical) who would have the opinion that holding on to US dollars is unwise, “bad” or even “sinful.”

My point in mentioning the other side is not to convince you to invest in cryptocurrencies.  Definitely not!  It is to point out that these different levels of relative risk and these different kinds of means to invest our money fall into gray areas, and people–even Christian people–will have a range of opinions.

Let me give you my advice.  First, if you feel strongly about this issue, and if you are in a strong position to influence how real “Christian” money is invested, then you ought to humbly but strongly express your concern, and influence that the money not be put into cryptocurrency.  I am guessing that you are NOT in such a position at all in any organization.  Bummer!  But perhaps you are.

My second advice is this.  If you feel strongly on this, and if you are considering giving to a particular organization you do not control, then you may want to do some research, and you may choose to put your contributions into a place that spends your money in a way you are ethically comfortable with.

My third advice may be a bit harder for you to hear, and take it for what it is worth.  There is one “place” that I, as a disciple of Jesus, feel I am obligated to give a certain portion of my income to, and that is to the local church where I worship.  All Christians must be part of a local church/fellowship, and contributing to the work of the local church is not optional.  The amount is, but the giving is required (2 Cor 8,9 for example).  If you are part of such a group (I hope you are!), and this group puts some of its cash into cryptocurrency, you can gently express your thought, but it would be unhelpful or even divisive to make this an issue.  In this case, I would continue to contribute to the work of the local church.  I would do this knowing that your heart is right on the situation, and trusting that God can oversee how the money is used, even when you are not fully comfortable with where and how it is spent.  Let me use a biblical example which is not perfect, but which might be helpful.  Jesus told his followers to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” (Matthew 22;21), And Paul commanded that we pay the taxes owed to our government, including the clearly corrupt Roman government (Romans 13:6).  If we should pay our taxes to governments which are clearly corrupt in at least some ways, then surely we ought to also give to the work of our local church, even if there are some aspects of how they use the money that we are not fully in agreement with.  I hope this makes sense.  I advise you continue to give sacrificially to your local church.

To summarize, I agree in general terms with your ethical concerns over cryptocurrencies in a Christian context.  But, this is a gray area.  When you are in a strong position to actually make decisions around the use of these funds, then you ought to speak up and use your influence according to your personal convictions.  When you are in a voluntary giving situation, carefully follow your own ethical convictions, and do not contribute to organizations which use your contributions is ways you are not comfortable with.  But as for the work of the local church, I advise you to continue to support it without grumbling and without being divisive, even though you struggle some with this practice.  It seems unlikely that your local church does this, but that is my advice on this, the most difficult of the possible situations, just in case they do.  This is a gray area.  Have strong convictions, but be tolerant of those with whom you do not agree.

John Oakes