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23andWE DAO
We're buying 23andMe and it will be governed by the people

So, what's going on?

We're buying 23andMe.

23andMe has declared bankruptcy and has proposed a May 14 2025 auction for the sale of its assets, which include the genetic data of more than 15 million customers. We are extremely concerned about the privacy and security of this data.

Following the pattern of ConstitutionDAO, 23andWE DAO is a DAO that is pooling together money to win this auction to bring 23andMe data under community control and for community benefit using advanced cryptography such as fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) and multi-party compute (MPC).

For far too long, genomic data has been jealously guarded from users by floundering companies with no security or privacy guardrails. Your genetic data should belong to you. And you should be able to use it for your personal healthspan, lifestyle, curiosity or even profit without worrying about it being leaked or sold to someone else.

Our top priorities:

  • Take control of 23andMe data using funds pooled together by the community
  • Ensure users can easily and permanently delete their genomic data and traits
  • Secure all genotype, trait, and ancestry data using frontier cryptographic techniques like FHE and MPC, putting the power of the data back in the hands of the people
  • Incorporate concepts from the Ikai protocol to safely and securely open access to 23andMe to enable developers, researchers, biohackers, etc to build novel applications and run studies for the public benefit

Why should a DAO acquire 23andMe data?

Genomic data is especially sensitive and can be weaponized against people if there are no guardrails. If a DAO does not step in, 15 million users' data will end up in the hands of private equity or similar actors with no accountability to the people. Giving everyday people an opportunity to have a say in the handling of their data is therefore an absolute necessity. Having said that, bringing the data and computation under encryption will allow the DAO to bring new insights to users and new ways to bring the data to community use.

Why is it a DAO?

Decentralization and cryptocurrency (web3) have created structures that allow people to self-govern with unparalleled levels of autonomy and freedom. It's fitting that we use this technology to band together to protect our DNA data.

Join the Movement

Help secure the privacy and future of genomic data for millions of users

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Frequently Asked Questions

Core Contributors

Vishakh

New York, NY

Jay Meattle

Cambridge, MA

Kapil

New York, NY

Carol Smith

Berlin, Germany