instead of SETI you can run any other energy-driven project -- you dont need fiatmoney-backed cryptocoins to run it !

The days when people gave away their resources for free are long gone. You need a really good cause to make millions of people to contribute their computing power pro bono. Crypto is nothing more than a measurement of your contribution to running the network and a very accurate measurement as well.

Give people financial incentives and they will participate. Ask people to give you computing power or personal information for free and you will become the new Facebook and new SETI very quickly. Our economy is run by capitalism and every individual should be rewarded for their contribution fairly. I see no problem with that.