Edward Snowden Warns of Major Risks Facing Blockchain

At the Redacted conference hosted by Near in Bangkok, Edward Snowden, renowned privacy advocate and renowned whistleblower, shared his perspective on cryptocurrencies, AI, and the blockchain industry.

Snowden highlighted how venture capital investments can influence blockchain networks, using Solana as a case study.

He remarked that Solana’s heavy reliance on venture funding has limited its independence, likening it to a “network born in prison.” While acknowledging Solana’s impressive growth, Snowden expressed concerns over the level of control ceded to early investors, though he left open the possibility for Solana’s evolution over time.

Throughout his speech, Snowden emphasized decentralization as a crucial defense against the pervasive reach of AI-driven surveillance. He noted that government and corporate use of AI could enable real-time monitoring of personal data on an unprecedented scale, allowing them to identify and potentially target individuals displaying “anomalous” behavior.

Snowden’s critique extended beyond Solana, pointing to a recent incident involving Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where the venture capital firm used its voting power in Uniswap governance to steer decision-making, effectively overriding a decentralized vote. This example, he suggested, shows how large stakeholders can undermine the autonomy of blockchain communities.

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