I think it looks bad right now because existing power structures are obviously losing control. The emergent chaos is likely a manifestation of the last dying gasps of the elite, desperately attempting more tyrannical means to regain control. It's an amplifying cycle as the man behind the curtain becomes more exposed, they get more extreme and then even more people realize it, kind of a Streisand effect. 

I think Bitcoin (and supporters) deserves credit for part of it. The fabric of the elite class' control is unraveling. Losing control of people's finances was a huge loss. Losing control of central banking in El Salvador too. And having an impartial decentralized measuring stick to hold up to their money games can't be fun for them either. The game is almost over, IMO. But the end will likely be the most interesting and volatile. 

I'm optimistic.