UBI Is Inevitable: Gnosis Founder Martin Köppelmann Says Crypto, Not Governments, Are the Answer

Do you think UBI is inevitable in an AI-driven world?

Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, Gnosis Safe, and Circles, believes Universal Basic Income isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable. In a world where AI disrupts the job market, he says we won’t be able to rely on states or billionaires to deliver it.

In this episode, Martin and Amanda unpack what “basic” income should really mean. He argues UBI should be simple, universal, and free from government control, biometric scans, or eligibility checks and believes crypto offers a way for communities to create and distribute money themselves without needing permission from centralized powers.

Known for building trusted infrastructure in crypto, Martin has spent the last decade quietly obsessed with another question: how do we fund human dignity from the ground up? This is a conversation about post-AI economics, the limits of state welfare, and why issuing your own money might be the most radical and necessary act of all.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Future of Universal Basic Income (UBI)

05:33 AI's Impact on Job Markets and UBI

09:06 The Mechanics of UBI Implementation

12:02 Defining Basic Needs for UBI

15:33 Funding UBI: Who Pays?

18:49 Preventing Inflation and Maintaining Purchasing Power

20:20 Managing Scope Creep in UBI Programs

23:13 Dependence on UBI and Societal Resilience

25:44 Crypto and UBI: A New Economic Model

30:40 Circles: A Community-Based Currency System

32:57 The Currency Debate: Martin Tokens vs US Dollar

38:00 Circles: A New Approach to Currency

42:35 WorldCoin vs Circles: A Comparison of UBI Approaches

46:54 Decentralized UBI: Empowering Individuals

48:22 Circles 2.0: New Features and Future Prospects

54:43 AI Doomsday: The Future of Humanity and AI

RESOURCES

Martin on X: https://x.com/koeppelmann @koeppelmann

Subscribe to Endgame: https://www.youtube.com/@endgamepodcast  

Amanda on X:  https://x.com/amandacassatt  

Serotonin on X: https://x.com/serotonin  

Endgame on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iSvbKOJWoEPiAoGmiulkd Endgame on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/endgame-with-amanda-cassatt/id1801809440 Substack: https://substack.com/@UCInZsV3L1nDGoFjxoNUnPQQ