In person, I can exchange value (e.g.: chocolate for firewood) without anyone interfering.
Online, I can exchange information without anyone interfering (using encryption).
Online, I cannot exchange value without anyone interfering.
Exchanging value at a distance is complicated, because there’s so many different laws, bank APIs, apps, regulations, etc etc. We use middle-man services to simplify these problems for us — but they charge hefty fees. There’s delays, and arbitrary restrictions. All these complications also introduce additional risk (compared to exchanging the value in person).
A single, perfect global bank, or a perfect standard for all banks to follow, would allow me to exchange value online without anyone interfering. However, such a thing isn’t likely to happen.
Cryptocurrencies, if executed well, offer a real pathway to “I can exchange value online without anyone interfering.”