Catenaa, Friday, April 04, 2025- The Sei Foundation is exploring the acquisition of the bankrupt genetic testing company, 23andMe, with plans to transition its data infrastructure onto the Sei blockchain.
Announced on March 27, the Foundation sees the move as a pivotal step in safeguarding user data by implementing on-chain solutions.
The acquisition aligns with the Foundation’s mission to ensure that users maintain sovereignty over their genetic information.
Sei believes that user data privacy, particularly in sensitive areas like genetic data, is a matter of national security.
With 23andMe facing bankruptcy through a Chapter 11 filing, the Foundation aims to protect millions of users’ genetic records from being handled by entities lacking transparency or adherence to the values of privacy and open access.
By moving the company’s infrastructure to blockchain technology, Sei aims to give individuals full control over their data—allowing them to decide how their genetic information is shared, monetized, or stored.
In addition to safeguarding genetic data, the acquisition marks Sei’s entry into Decentralized Science (DeSci), an emerging field that integrates blockchain principles into scientific research. If the deal goes through, it could be one of the first significant steps to bring genetic science into the decentralized world, further pushing the DeSci movement, which has attracted significant attention and funding in recent months.
This acquisition would also position Sei at the forefront of a growing movement, as the market value of DeSci-related tokens now exceeds $657 million, according to CoinGecko data.
