Sei Foundation Pursues Bold 23andMe Acquisition to Secure Genetic Data on Blockchain

The Sei Foundation, the nonprofit developer behind the Sei blockchain, is exploring the acquisition of the bankrupt 23andMe, aiming to integrate the genetic data of 15 million users onto its blockchain. Presented as the foundation's "boldest DeSci bet yet," the move is intended to empower users with ownership of their personal genomic information, ensuring privacy through encrypted transfers and user-controlled monetization. The initiative comes at a time when genomic data security is being increasingly viewed as a national security issue, particularly as 23andMe faces financial difficulties and customers are advised by state attorneys to delete their data following bankruptcy filing. Early market reaction saw SEI, the native token, climb up to 3% before settling back, highlighting the immediate investor interest in the roadmap presented by the Sei Foundation.