Scott my path came through study of the power aspect of crypto (see "Bitcoin Kardashev Hinge" in Medium), it could have a vital role to play, and already has by opening our eyes to monetising energy, but I think it is down to banks and governments. If they don't step up to issuing the funds needed to honestly ennumerate the solar Joules received and put to use, such that inflation is corrected, then people will turn to the obvious alternative, which by nature is direct ennummeration of Joules (At least those based on pow).
Interesting the timing of Ethereum moving from pow to pos, almost like it was deliberately removed from the list of candidates capable of ennumerating Joules, before it might have added most value to increasing distributed energy.