Joseph Lubin, Ethereum Co-Founder, Highlights the Risks of AI Control by Major Tech Firms

The next significant milestone for the crypto industry is expected to come from advancements in artificial intelligence. According to Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum, decentralized networks will enable autonomous or semi-autonomous agents to transact, coordinate, and verify each other, utilizing crypto as the foundation for machine-driven activities. Lubin, who is set to speak at Consensus Miami 2026, expressed his support for the idea that blockchain is suited for machine intelligences, but does not foresee humans being replaced. Instead, he envisions increasingly intelligent interfaces that simplify complexity, allowing users to interact with crypto systems through intent rather than manual inputs, with AI serving as an intermediary layer between people and protocols. However, Lubin warned that if AI infrastructure remains concentrated among a few large tech firms, it could pose significant risks. Decentralized systems and cryptography will be crucial in ensuring accountability and enabling machines to verify each other in transparent environments. Products like MetaMask are evolving to reflect this shift, with Lubin describing it as a new type of neobank that users own and control, part of a transition toward a personal money operating system. AI-powered agents could act on behalf of users, managing assets and executing transactions within a growing decentralized economy. Lubin also pointed to structural changes in the Ethereum ecosystem, including the rise of corporate chains, which he expects to become more common as companies seek higher throughput and greater control over their infrastructure. While he believes assets are best issued on Ethereum's base layer, he noted that stablecoins are a stepping stone toward more fully decentralized financial systems. Tokenization is expected to lead to a convergence of traditional finance and decentralized finance, resulting in a more granular and programmable global economy. Regarding quantum computing, Lubin adopted a measured tone, stating that Ethereum developers have been preparing for years and see it as part of the natural evolution of Ethereum.