🚀 Edward Snowden, the whistleblower turned decentralization advocate, took the stage at Near's Redacted conference in Bangkok, delivering a spicy critique of blockchain's VC influence. Using Solana as his prime example, Snowden quipped it was "born in prison" due to its hefty VC backing, hinting at a tug-of-war between growth and independence.

- He warned of AI's surveillance potential, urging decentralization as a countermeasure.

- Open-source tools? Snowden's all in, calling them "incredibly empowering."

What do you think? Is VC funding a blessing or a curse for crypto? Share your thoughts below! 👇