On: Vitalik Buterin backs crypto ‘bunker mode’ amid rapid AI math advances

Depends on your definition of "legitimate", but Iran uses cryptocurrency to tax oil tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz. There is certainly some practical impact. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/crypto/articles/iran-turns...

Interesting use case. Not formally legitimate but even the US would prefer it not be stopped as even small exports exert a large impact on the price of oil.

But a good example of a macro impact on the global economy.