The future of crypto and finance is decentralized, says co-founder of Ethereum Joseph Lubin

Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum, shared his vision of a generational paradigm shift driven by decentralization at ETHDenver. Lubin, one of the most influential figures in the crypto space, spoke at a fireside chat during the ETHDenver event, a gathering of developers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts of the Ethereum ecosystem.

He said that the world is on the verge of a major transformation, as the current monetary system is failing and a new one is emerging, powered by blockchain technology and decentralized protocols.

According to Lubin, this change will trigger a "super cycle" for the crypto industry, as more people adopt and use cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications (DApps) for various purposes, such as finance, gaming, social media, and more.

Lubin also discussed the concept of generational supercycles, a theory proposed by Strauss and Howe, which suggests that each generation has a distinct collective identity and role in history, and that every four generations, a major crisis occurs that reshapes the social order. Lubin argued that the current financial system is top-down, centralized, and controlled by a few powerful entities, such as governments, banks, and corporations, which often act in their own interests and not in the best interests of the people.

He praised Bitcoin as a revolutionary invention that introduced the concept of decentralized trust, where anyone can participate and verify transactions on a peer-to-peer network, without relying on intermediaries or authorities.

Lubin said that Ethereum is the leading platform for innovation and experimentation in the crypto space, as it supports a diverse and vibrant community of developers, users, and projects, across multiple domains and industries. He said that Ethereum is constantly evolving and improving, as it transitions to a more scalable, secure, and sustainable version, known as Ethereum 2.0, which will use a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism instead of the current proof-of-work (PoW) one.

Lubin said that the recent launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which allow investors to buy and sell shares of a fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin, is a positive sign for the crypto industry, as it indicates growing mainstream acceptance and adoption. However, he also expressed some concerns about the potential centralization of Bitcoin through these instruments, as they may reduce the incentives for people to hold and use Bitcoin directly, and increase the power of the intermediaries and custodians that manage the funds.

Lubin said that he is not too worried about the impact of a possible spot Ethereum ETF, as he believes that the Ethereum community is more passionate and engaged, and more likely to stake their ETH within the protocol, to participate in its governance and earn rewards, rather than sell it for fiat money.

Lubin concluded by saying that he is optimistic and excited about the future of crypto and finance, as he sees a generational paradigm shift happening, fueled by decentralization and innovation.