Ethereum cofounder Joseph Lubin is in the hot stories again — this time with a deep endorsement of what he is calling one of the most compelling theses on ETH to date.

The thesis compares ETH not just to a digital currency but to something much bigger: a kind of "digital oil" or "energy" that powers a re-decentralized global economy. The idea is not a new one; it is similar to some of the early Ethereum metaphors, but Lubin says it is more relevant now than ever, especially with the huge growth in AI, data infrastructure and decentralized protocols.

Lubin highlighted two main things that affect how valuable Ethereum is: its role as the "world computer" that powers decentralized apps and services, and a second, lesser-known but potentially game-changing idea called the "trust commodity" model.

In this way of thinking, ETH is seen as the best kind of digital trust on the planet, mostly because of Ethereum's deep decentralization. Lubin says that both of these frameworks show that in the long run ETH will be worth a lot more than it is now.

Not optimistic enough

But the most striking part of Lubin's comments was when he articulated the thesis — even in its optimistic tone — is still not optimistic enough. Ethereum could have a huge impact, he says, as AI, crypto and decentralized systems come together to create a hybrid human-machine economy.

He reckons Ethereum could underpin value flows that go even beyond today's global GDP.

Ethereum's popularity is growing fast, so it is no surprise that the crypto world is taking notice of Lubin's comments. If his ideas are even close to being right, the ETH price could be set for a much bigger long-term gain than most would think.