Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin warns of the dangers of AI being controlled by a few big tech firms

Tech Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin warns of the dangers of AI being controlled by a few big tech firms In an interview with CoinDesk, the Ethereum co-founder spoke also about Ethereum’s evolution through MetaMask, stablecoins and tokenization, while downplaying quantum computing as a long-term, manageable issue. By Margaux Nijkerk | Edited by Nikhilesh De Apr 18, 2026, 1:00 p.m. Make preferred on Sharplink CEO Joseph Chalom and Consensys CEO Joe Lubin speaking at Consensus Hong Kong 2026 (CoinDesk) What to know : Joe Lubin told CoinDesk that AI and crypto are converging to power a machine-driven economy, while warning that centralized AI control could pose risks. He described Ethereum’s evolution through MetaMask, stablecoins and tokenization, while downplaying quantum computing as a long-term, manageable issue. Crypto’s next major inflection point is coming from artificial intelligence (AI). That's according to Consensys CEO and Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin. He told CoinDesk that autonomous or semi-autonomous agents can transact, coordinate and verify one another on decentralized networks, using crypto rails as a foundation for machine-driven activity. Lubin, who will be speaking at Consensus Miami 2026 next month, said he is “sympathetic to the idea that blockchain is for machine intelligences,” but does not see humans being displaced. Instead, increasingly intelligent interfaces will abstract away complexity, allowing users to interact with crypto systems through intent rather than manual inputs. In that model, AI becomes the intermediary layer between people and protocols. That vision comes with risks. If AI infrastructure remains concentrated among large technology firms, “we could be in trouble,” Lubin warned. He argued that decentralized systems and cryptography will be essential in ensuring accountability, enabling machines to “check on one another” in transparent, verifiable environments. Within that broader shift, products like MetaMask — a Consensys product — are evolving to reflect the change. Lubin said the wallet is being rebuilt as “a new kind of neobank that you own and control,” part of a transition toward what he described as a “personal money operating system.” AI-powered agents could act on behalf of users, managing assets, executing transactions and navigating a growing decentralized economy. “You can walk around with your personal financial system in your pocket,” he said. The rise of corporate chains on Ethereum Beyond interfaces, Lubin pointed to structural changes across the Ethereum ecosystem. The architecture of the blockchain is also shaping how institutions approach adoption. Lubin expects “corporate chains” to become more common as companies seek higher throughput and greater control over their infrastructure. Still, he argued that assets are best issued on Ethereum’s base layer, saying “the best way to ensure that an asset is durable… is to mint it on Ethereum layer one,” even if the asset is later used across other networks. Stablecoins, one of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors, are part of that transition, but not the endpoint. Lubin described them as a “stepping stone” toward more fully decentralized financial systems, noting that current models remain heavily reliant on centralized issuers. Over time, he expects growth in decentralized collateral to enable more robust, crypto-native forms of money. On tokenization more broadly, Lubin suggested that traditional finance and decentralized finance are entering a period of convergence, combining centuries of financial innovation with newer blockchain-based systems. The result, he said, will be a more granular and programmable global economy. Even as these shifts accelerate, Lubin struck a measured tone on longer-term technical risks like quantum computing. While not an immediate concern, he said Ethereum developers have been preparing for years. “A lot of us just see it as being folded into the natural evolution of Ethereum,” Lubin said. Read more: Joe Lubin claims DeFi is as safe as traditional finance, adding that bitcoin is in crisis Ethereum News Consensus Miami 2026 More For You How a quantum computer can be used to actually steal your bitcoin in '9 minutes' By Shaurya Malwa | Edited by Aoyon Ashraf 9 hours ago Part one explained the physics of quantum computing. This piece explains the target — how bitcoin's encryption works, why a quantum algorithm breaks it, and what Google's paper changed about the timeline. What to know : Bitcoin’s security relies on elliptic curve cryptography, a one-way mathematical function that makes deriving a private key from a public key effectively impossible for traditional computers. Shor’s algorithm allows a sufficiently powerful quantum computer to efficiently reverse this one-way function, turning a bitcoin public key into its corresponding private key... Read full story Latest Crypto News Wrapped XRP goes live on Solana, broadening DeFi access for Ripple-linked token 1 min. ago Former UK Prime Minister sees economy on 'very negative trajectory,' indicates support for bitcoin 1 hour ago Bitcoin falls back to $76,000 as Iran shuts Hormuz again 7 hours ago XRP leads majors with 8% weekly outperformance, what next after breakout 8 hours ago How a quantum computer can be used to actually steal your bitcoin in '9 minutes' 9 hours ago Strategy proposes semi-monthly dividends on its popular STRC preferred stock 16 hours ago Top Stories Sam Altman’s World project launches major upgrade to fight deepfakes and bots 19 hours ago Kraken's parent company Payward to acquire derivatives exchange Bitnomial for $550 million in cash and stock Apr 17, 2026 Back in the black: Strategy surges 8% as bitcoin's rise to $77,000 puts holdings in profit 23 hours ago The U.S. government moves $606,000 in bitcoin linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack to Coinbase Apr 17, 2026 Bitcoin bulls target $125,000 as U.S.-Iran peace talks trigger risk-on mood Apr 17, 2026 Cardano's Charles Hoskinson says Bitcoin's quantum fix is a hard fork that can't save Satoshi's coins Apr 16, 2026