Former Coinbase CTO Warns of Tech Giants’ Role in Asset Seizure
Balaji Srinivasan, former chief technology officer of Coinbase, raises concerns about the possibility of prominent tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google aiding governments in the seizure of digital assets.
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According to Srinivasan, if G7 nations authorize the seizure of digital assets, tech giants equipped with operating system access and user data could potentially scan devices, identify private keys, and comply with authorities by relinquishing them.
“The biggest risk factor for that is actually Apple, Google and Microsoft because they have operating system access. That’s actually what I’m most concerned about: it is the fact that Apple has software updates and Google can get into your Google Drive and Microsoft has Windows, and if ordered by the state, in theory, they could scan your hard drive for private keys and then pull your digital assets.”
He speculates that if digital asset seizure becomes a reality, it could lead to a future where central bank digital currencies dominate, limiting individual financial freedom. However, if asset seizure is not possible, it could open the door to decentralized communities, crowdfunded territories, and the emergence of “network states.”
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