Gavin Wood has expressed concerns about the increasing regulatory compliance of cryptocurrency projects, likening them to traditional banking systems. He argues that as these projects align more with regulatory frameworks, they deviate from the original decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies, integrating into the existing financial order. Wood warns that as long as the world relies on opaque institutions and individuals who can profit from these systems, true economic autonomy remains elusive. He also cautions against so-called decentralized projects, which may still be controlled by centralized teams, undermining the promise of genuine financial independence.