Rethinking Volatility: A Pathway to Detachment and Service
This article is an adaption of an opinion piece published on LinkedIn, written by VALR’s CMO, Ben Caselin.
Over the years, working between crypto and society, I’ve frequently encountered the sharp edges of uncertainty. Markets fluctuate without warning, traders get liquidated, platforms face constant threats from technical failures, regulatory changes, bad actors, and so forth. While it’s easy to get frustrated or even become down-hearted, I’ve come to see that the experience of volatility, or impermanence, highlights a simple truth: as people, we often seek a state of final achievement— a perfectly balanced portfolio, a fully secure system, an enduring reputation—yet such stability remains out of reach in this world, and for good reason.
Volatility, present in finance, relationships, health, politics, and even nature itself, is not just a challenge to overcome. It is an inherent condition that, when understood properly, can guide us toward detachment and selfless service. In other words, it can help us become better human beings, and when we look around us now in a world that is arguably only getting darker and agitated, it’s a perspective worth considering.
Informed by Baha'i teachings and insights from philosophy, I suggest an approach that reframes chaos as a catalyst for personal and collective growth, fostering virtues that ultimately contribute to human progress.
The Reality of Impermanence
Human endeavors are marked by constant change. When managing an investment portfolio, risk can be mitigated through diversification, but unexpected events—economic shifts, technological disruptions, or global crises—introduce unavoidable volatility. Similarly, operating a crypto platform requires ongoing maintenance amid shape-shifting security threats and user demands. Health routines promise longevity, yet they contend with unforeseen illnesses or accidents. Relationships require working through conflicts and reconciliations; reputations adapt to public scrutiny; political realities realign with elections and public sentiment. Nature itself demonstrates this: forests burn and regenerate, species adapt to environmental pressures, and geological formations emerge from erosion over time.
This impermanence is not accidental but essential. The philosopher Heraclitus observed that "no man ever steps in the same river twice," emphasising how change defines existence. During my studies in Anthropology, this state of flux was applied to culture as well, where we recognised that far from fixed, culture is always changing, especially at the margins.
In professional contexts, such as crypto’s history of booms and busts, this flux drives adaptation and innovation. Resisting it leads to frustration. Accepting it opens the door to resilience, which in turn paves the way for a deep state of detachment.
From a Baha'i perspective, this condition reflects the limitations of the material world, where absolute perfection is described as unattainable. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to improve upon things. Rather, I take it to mean that as we are confronted with imperfections, recognise our own frailties, and realise that most things are beyond our control, we become empowered to detach and purify our motives. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained, "tests and trials are, for sanctified souls, but God's bounty and grace, while to the weak, they are a calamity." Trials refine the soul, directing attention to enduring purpose rather than fleeting successes. This insight encourages viewing volatility not as failure, but as a mechanism for growth and deeper understanding.
Developing Detachment in Uncertain Times
Building on this acceptance of flux, detachment means letting go of specific outcomes, enabling focused action without emotional entanglement. In a market downturn, it allows for rational decisions rather than reactive fear; in heated online discussions, it promotes constructive dialogue over defensiveness. Epictetus captured this clearly: "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." By concentrating on what is within our control—our efforts and attitudes—we navigate volatility more effectively (and gracefully), and it becomes a pathway to progress.
Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, defined detachment precisely:
"The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as witness before Him."
This orientation purifies intentions, revealing human limitations and redirecting energy toward higher aims. Through challenges, we recognise our imperfections, cultivating what 'Abdu'l-Bahá described as "radiant acquiescence"—a willing acceptance of divine wisdom in all circumstances.
For crypto advocates facing regulatory hurdles, or even in the face of social fragmentation, detachment shifts focus from personal gain to collective benefit. It replaces reward-seeking with a genuine pursuit of knowledge and appreciation for the beauty in all things. Gratitude emerges not despite difficulties, but through reliance on a merciful providence.
This perspective builds enduring strength amid external flux, naturally leading to acts of service—actions aimed at supporting others without expectation of return. Baha'u'llah emphasised: "Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches." Merit arises from uplifting others, creating effects that persist beyond individual lifetimes. 'Abdu'l-Bahá reinforced this by noting that true acquaintance with the self deepens through devotion to God and humanity, as service reveals our interconnectedness.
The mystic Hafez illustrated selfless love: "Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, 'You owe me.' Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky."
Embodying Virtues for Collective Illumination
As service refines us further, higher virtues—forgiveness, patience, generosity, kindness—become integrated into daily conduct. These qualities transform interactions: forgiveness resolves conflicts in teams, patience sustains long-term projects, generosity shares resources equitably. In volatile environments, virtues provide a roadmap, turning potential divisions into opportunities for unity.
There is a well-known Baha’í Writing, where God addresses man, saying: "To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues." Adopting divine virtues positions individuals as conduits for positive change, illuminating challenges for others.
This path, demanding yet fulfilling, clarifies priorities: worldly achievements like wealth or recognition are secondary to reflecting divine qualities. Volatility in markets, societies, or personal spheres, is inevitable, but our response defines its meaning. By accepting impermanence, practicing detachment, and committing to selfless service, we move beyond self-preservation to meaningful impact. The aim is not domination of circumstances, but embodiment of virtues that advance humanity. In that commitment lies true purpose and a quiet, but all-pervasive sense of fulfillment.
The world is in turmoil, our monetary system is broken, politics have become toxic, and while none of us can fix such things single-handedly, coming together to do so collectively, and growing in the process, is an incredible opportunity and privilege that we should seize, celebrate, and cherish wholeheartedly.
Author
Ben Caselin is Chief Marketing Officer at VALR.com, the Pantera-backed crypto exchange. Headquartered in Johannesburg and the largest exchange by trade volume on the African continent, VALR serves over 1700 corporate and professional investors and more than 1.5 million traders worldwide. Drawing on years of experience in the digital asset space, mostly in Hong Kong, Dubai and now South Africa, Ben focuses primarily on driving the adoption of bitcoin in emerging markets and advocates for an approach to innovation on the basis of spiritual principles.
Risk Disclosure
Trading or investing in crypto assets is risky and may result in the loss of capital as the value may fluctuate. VALR (Pty) Ltd is a licensed financial services provider (FSP #53308).
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and should not form the basis for making investment decisions, nor be construed as a recommendation or advice to engage in investment transactions.
