E170: Ethereum Co-Founder: How Big Tech Will Use AI To Control You (And How Crypto Stops It)

Joseph Lubin, co-founder of Ethereum and CEO of Consensys, warns that big tech is racing to build centralized AI systems that could control humans and every system on the planet - and explains why decentralized protocols are the only architecture standing in the way.THE SHIFT NEWSLETTER💡Go beyond the mic - subscribe to The Shift, my new weekly newsletter where I share the uncut stories, raw takes, and behind-the-scenes notes from When Shift Happens: https://www.kevinfollonier.com/crypto-web3-newsletter___________PARTNERS🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana: https://jup.ag/💳 KAST lets you manage and spend stablecoins or crypto with a Visa Card or Apple Pay. Live in 100+ countries - Get $20 Signup Bonus - https://go.kast.xyz/VqVO/SHIFT - promo code: SHIFT🔓 Trezor offers the safest cold-storage wallets for crypto and true financial independence. Buy with 10% off - promo code: WSH10 - https://affil.trezor.io/SH12h🌱 Bitwise Asset Management manages $15B+ across 30+ crypto investment products — ETFs, index funds, alpha, staking, and more. https://bitwiseinvestments.com/⚖️ Ethena is a synthetic dollar protocol on Ethereum, offering a crypto-native, non-bank-dependent stablecoin called USDe. It uses a delta-neutral hedging strategy with staked ETH to maintain a $1 peg. https://ethena.fi/🔒Sumsub is the leading full-cycle verification platform for the crypto industry, chosen by 8 out of 10 of the world’s largest exchanges. From instant KYC and KYB to automated crypto transaction monitoring, they help VASPs, exchanges, and DeFi platforms prevent fraud, stay compliant, and scale globally. Download the Sumsub Crypto Industry Report 2026 here: https://sumsub.link/osb♾️ Coinsilium provides vital funding and expert advice to Web3 and AI-powered early-stage technology companies. https://www.coinsilium.com___________FOLLOW JOSEPH LUBIN• Twitter: https://x.com/ethereumJoseph• Twitter: https://x.com/ConsensysFOLLOW WHEN SHIFT HAPPENSTwitter (X): https://x.com/KevinWSHPod  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kevinfollonier_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinfollonier_Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfollonier/Website: https://kevinfollonier.com/DISCLAIMERThe info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome.0:00 Introduction1:55 Kast Card & Hong Kong Discussion3:52 What It Means To Be Meta According To Joe5:35 What Does Joe Do Explained Simply11:53 Partnerships: @JupiterExchange @KASTxyz16:27 The Before & After Of Joe’s Beliefs Post 9/11 Explained18:02 What Does This Negative Or Positive Road Depend On21:55 Why Joe Goes To Many Crypto Conferences23:16 How Did Joe React To Novo’s Article Comment31:14 Partnerships: @Ethena @sumsub32:16 Why Joe Decided To Join Ethereum As A Co-Founder35:03 Why Is Decentralization An Organizing Principle40:32 Explain Consensys To Your Uber Driver42:57 Joe’s Fundamental Belief Of What Blockchain Represents Today46:49 Every Innovation On Technology Brings Side Effects That Should Be Fixed49:33 Partnerships: @Trezor @BitwiseInvest50:17 What’s The Most Incredible, Tangible Thing To Come Out Of Crypto51:43 What Is MetaMask?57:01 How Much Of Joe’s Life Is Lived In This New Financial System59:50 Why Would You Borrow Against A Volatile Asset?1:00:40 Is Self-Sovereignty A Good Or Bad Thing1:05:57 Joe’s Response To People Who Claim Self-Custody Is Too Risky1:06:36 What Could Easier Self-Custody Look Like?1:08:32 Joe’s Relationship With Money1:09:28 How Do People Interact With Money In The Next 10 Years1:12:28 Closing Thoughts