AI/ML barrier to entry is far simpler and vastly user friendly compared to crypto. Instant value return or gratification from ML products (GTPs and rest) is far more mainstream friendly.
Another view is the "loss" factor. Nobody, thus far, has has had their funds stolen or lost using ML products. I understand content creators and those who, unwillingly, contributed knowledge to learning systems did get circumvented but i'm talking about users/customers. Compare that to the negative stigma of crypto frauds and stereotypical association to illegal transactions.
Apples vs. rotten oranges in my opinion!
That is true however I'd say that for example the venezuelian and turkish people who managed to scoop Bitcoin (or Ethereum) didn't do too badly:
Inflation in Venezuela 2022 and estimate for 2023: 210% and 51% Inflation in Turkey 2022 and estimate for 2023: 70% and 50%
These aren't the only countries.
I personally know a doctor from Iran who tried semi-recently to convert his savings into Bitcoin (and failed: bank didn't let him). And he basically lost all his savings (inflation and bank defaults: double whammy).
From the comfort of countries using strong currencies it's easy to dismiss Bitcoin but there are many countries where shit did hit the fan really hard.
Not it's not a panacea: for example many african countries are experiencing ultra high inflation but cannot use Bitcoin because fees are way too high for these people ($6 USD to move Bitcoin today: I just checked).
> Compare that to the negative stigma of crypto frauds and stereotypical association to illegal transactions.
Seen all the people and exchanges owners busted and going to jail and seen moves like the EU soon de-anonymizing every single wallet out there (as soon as a transaction is made), and seen the public ledger, I don't even know if that bad bad reputation is going to stay for long.
I have coworkers with family in Turkey (and Lebanon, Iran, Argentina...): they want USD. They don't care about Bitcoin, they want stablecoins. Most stablecoins are inherently dangerous, because you need to trust sketchy (when not outright criminal) and centralized entities to issue quasi-dollars that can get shut down by the US DoJ at any time. If they don't collapse on their own before that.
Venezuela is an exception because a few people manage to mine Bitcoin illegaly, given that electricity is virtually free. Other than that it seems the most practical currencies in Venezuela right now are contraband gasoline sold in Colombia, drugs, kidnapping, prostitution, ...