In all probability, the transfer by the Sei Basis – the group behind layer1 blockchain Sei – to purchase bankrupt genetic knowledge firm 23andMe is a long-shot at finest, and probably only a publicity stunt. However, it stays an extremely thrilling concept that has bought lots of people considering.

Had been such a deal to undergo, we’d see a Web3 firm rescue a Web2 firm, which might have monumental ramifications in and of itself. Web2 tech giants are already being challenged within the space of AI by a lot smaller, nimble, and extra versatile corporations. Nonetheless, the acquisition of what was as soon as one among Silicon Valley’s shiniest stars by a blockchain upstart can be a complete paradigm shift.

Past that, a deal can be a win for public understanding for knowledge safety and privateness. Whereas we now have all been vaguely conscious of how Meta, Google, Apple, and many others., take and use our knowledge, we now have chosen to disregard that for the comfort it affords us.

Then there has maybe by no means been such a case as 23andMe, which holds DNA and different knowledge for 15 million folks. It reveals the general public how susceptible their most private and intimate knowledge is within the fingers of centralized corporations and organizations.

It’s one factor when Fb and Instagram are monitoring our buying and client habits and making our delicate messages and emails susceptible to leaks. With 23andMe, we’re speaking DNA knowledge; the very cloth of our human our bodies has simply been green-flagged on the market to the best bidder.

If Sei isn’t profitable, which is probably, this knowledge can and might be bought to well being or life insurance coverage corporations. They could then have the ability to use this knowledge to probably exclude folks from important healthcare or insurance coverage insurance policies, because of the questionable method by which the U.S. healthcare system is run and its discrimination insurance policies enforced.

Maybe, lastly, this can be a turning level at which the general public could significantly come to grasp the significance of proudly owning their very own knowledge. Possibly extra folks will notice that to maintain their knowledge really secure, they’ve full management of it themselves via using decentralized blockchain know-how.

After all, not each blockchain is created equal. Nonetheless, Sei definitely claims to be extremely safe, and tasks like Arweave – which is a everlasting storage chain constructed on a “pay one retailer perpetually” mannequin – have functions that may will let you add and retailer your knowledge privately, securely and completely.

These are two amongst a rising record of choices in our business, however the level is that this: there’s merely no centralized resolution past a bit of paper saved in a Swiss safety deposit field with keys buried deep within the floor that may evaluate. And even then, somebody can dig these keys up.

It is a watershed second for folks to grasp the significance of knowledge self-sovereignty. And it comes at a time when belief in centralized organizations, corporations, and even governments is breaking down. As such, the 23andMe sale may mark a real turning level in historical past, and one that might reshape how Web3 is seen, understood and utilized.