

Crypto (ETH and the like) is useful for it’s protocol, you can build projects on it.
Bitcoin is a good store of value, and with lightning payments starting to be accepted it could be a good way to pay for goods and services. The third world is currently using lightning to circumvent inflationary currency swings.
Signal has already stated that they will pull out of the UK if they go through with their version of this, I imagine they’ll say the same for the EU.
Get a good VPN, exit it from a non-5 eyes country, and hope they don’t start blocking by phone number alone… and hopefully they’ll drop the phone number requirement sooner than later.
Also, welcome to Signal!