In this critique, we examine how Daron Acemoğlu’s economic theories have become misaligned with the disruptive realities of the digital age. As Acemoğlu continues to advocate for traditional economic approaches, he overlooks transformative technologies like blockchain, AI, Web3, and tokenization. With more data created in the last three years than in all prior history and software costs plummeting, the tech landscape demands paradigm-shifting perspectives. This article argues that Acemoğlu’s outdated views fail to address the game-changing potential of decentralized finance, real-world asset tokenization, and the democratization of innovation in the metaverse era.