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

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 Ethereum co-founder, autonomous agents will be able to transact and verify each other on decentralized networks, 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 ideal for machine intelligence but does not foresee humans being replaced. Instead, he believes that increasingly intelligent interfaces will simplify complexity, allowing users to interact with crypto systems through intent rather than manual inputs, with AI serving as the intermediary between people and protocols. However, if AI infrastructure remains controlled by a few large tech firms, it could pose significant risks. Lubin emphasized the importance of decentralized systems and cryptography in ensuring accountability and enabling machines to verify each other in transparent environments. The evolution of products like MetaMask reflects this shift, with the wallet being rebuilt as a personalized, user-controlled neobank. AI-powered agents will be able to manage assets, execute transactions, and navigate the growing decentralized economy on behalf of users. Lubin also discussed the rise of corporate chains on Ethereum, expecting companies to seek higher throughput and greater control over their infrastructure. He believes that assets are best issued on Ethereum's base layer to ensure durability. Stablecoins are part of this transition but not the ultimate goal, serving as a stepping stone toward more decentralized financial systems. Lubin expects growth in decentralized collateral to enable more robust, crypto-native forms of money. On tokenization, he suggested that traditional finance and decentralized finance are converging, combining centuries of financial innovation with newer blockchain-based systems to create a more granular and programmable global economy. While acknowledging the risks of quantum computing, Lubin struck a measured tone, stating that Ethereum developers have been preparing for years and see it as part of the natural evolution of Ethereum.