Decentralization Debate: Edward Snowden Critiques VC Role in Solana and AI Surveillance Risks

• Edward Snowden critiques the impact of VC funding on blockchain projects like Solana, highlighting how it limits decentralization and independence.
• Snowden warns of AI-driven surveillance risks and advocates for decentralization and open-source tools to safeguard personal freedom and privacy.

During the Near’s Redacted conference in Bangkok, Edward Snowden voiced strong views on decentralization and the impact of venture capital (VC) funding on blockchain autonomy, focusing on Solana as an example. However, as CNF highlighted, he bought Bitcoin and focused on the DeFi sector as centralized institutions like FTX collapsed.

Despite that, he simply described Solana as “born in prison” due to significant VC funding, arguing that such backing can limit a network’s independence. While Snowden acknowledged Solana’s progress, he expressed concerns that investor influence might compromise its decentralization, though he saw potential for future growth if autonomy is strengthened.

They want to train it on everything, and they want to be able to say, you know, who looks anomalous […] Look at everybody, look at the whole human body, and pick out anybody who is weird.

AI Surveillance and the Importance of Decentralization

Snowden illustrated these concerns by referencing a recent decision by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where the firm’s large token holdings enabled it to veto a community-backed proposal for Uniswap. This, he suggested, exemplified how central control by large stakeholders can influence supposedly decentralized projects.

Snowden also addressed the risks of AI-enhanced surveillance, cautioning that governments and corporations could use real-time data analysis to monitor and control individuals on a massive scale. He underscored decentralization as a critical defense against such intrusive oversight, stressing that without it, society risks invasive tracking.

Open Source as a Path to Empowerment

Snowden encouraged listeners to leverage open-source models to take control, asserting that with these tools, “the sky’s the limit.” His message was a call to action, promoting open-source innovation as essential to preserving personal freedom and decentralization in a tech-driven world.

At the time of writing, Solana (SOL) is trading at $215.66, having surged by 5.04% in the past day and 31.93% in the past week. See the SOL price chart below.

Finally, by advocating for open-source tools, Snowden praised their role in empowering individuals to adopt blockchain and AI technologies independently. He described open-source models as “incredibly empowering,” urging the public to explore these tools to maintain autonomy in an increasingly centralized digital world.