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.
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.
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.
