In a recent CoinDesk Spotlight interview, Bitcoin pioneer Erik Voorhees shared his insights on the separation of money and state, expressing concerns over the potential establishment of a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Voorhees emphasized the original intent of cryptocurrency as a tool for financial independence and its potential synergy with artificial intelligence. During the discussion, Voorhees reflected on Bitcoin's emergence as a solution to the financial crisis and debated its potential to replace gold entirely. He also expressed skepticism about government involvement in cryptocurrency, describing the crypto industry's engagement with politicians as "gross." Additionally, Voorhees shared his experiences with the SEC and his views on the future of decentralized finance and Ethereum's development. The interview also touched on Voorhees' predictions for the crypto landscape, including the rise of Layer 2 solutions and the role of AI in shaping the future of digital currencies. Voorhees concluded by discussing the importance of maintaining privacy in the digital age and the lessons learned from ShapeShift's transition to a DAO structure.