Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum, said the world is on the cusp of a generational paradigm shift fueled by decentralization as the world's current monetary system is failing.
He made the statements during a fireside chat at ETHDenverwhere he discussed his thoughts on what could drive the next technology and financial supercycle.
Lubin believes this shift will result in a “super cycle” for the crypto industry as monetary systems evolve and wealth transfers to younger generations. He said:
“The momentum is accelerating and there is no stopping it.”
Need for a decentralized system
Lubin painted a big picture, drawing parallels between historical trends and the current state of the world. He discussed the concept of generational supercycles, theorized by Strauss and Howe, where each generation builds on the previous one until a breaking point requires a new system.
Lubin believes that we are at the end of the fourth and final stage of this cycle, with current centralized systems reaching their limits and failing to meet the needs of the emerging generation.
He compared current financial systems, controlled from the top down, to the potential for decentralized trust offered by blockchain technology.
Lubin said Satoshi Nakamoto's creation of Bitcoin as a reaction to the limitations of traditional finance opened the door for a move from centralized intermediaries to open, transparent systems where anyone can participate and verify transactions.
Centralization problems
Lubin said the recent launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs is overall a positive development for the industry. However, he expressed concerns about the centralization of Bitcoin through these instruments.
He highlighted the potential for regulators to influence asset prices through entities such as the Plunge Protection Team, raising questions about true control over these assets.
Lubin downplayed the immediate impact of a potential Ethereum spot ETF, suggesting that avid holders are more likely to stake their ETH in the protocol to participate in its governance and earn rewards, keeping the asset decentralized.
He added that Ethereum's true value lies beyond short-term price fluctuations, but in its ability to power diverse applications across various industries.
The Consensys CEO also warned of the potential dangers of centralized AI and stressed the need to link its development to decentralization.
He outlined ongoing efforts in the crypto space to create decentralized versions of various AI functionalities, such as storage, computation, and data sharing, thereby ensuring responsible and ethical use of this powerful technology.
Lubin emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant against centralized control and working collaboratively for a future based on ethical AI development, user empowerment, and a more equitable distribution of power and resources.