Who are these "crypto enthusiasts" who, in 2026, have a "stated goal" of "some alternative 'currency'"?

Look at the schedule of any crypto conference - ethereum events in particular, but others as well - and you will find that your critique has already been widely adopted. The discussion is around replacing power structures and sources of injustice, not merely 'currency'.

I was reluctant to get involved in blockchain tech because I don't care for currency and don't view it as a likely organizing principle for humans for the next thousand years. That was in like 2016.

Today, nearly every blockchain project attempts to overcome challenges other than currency.