In emerging technologies, a crisis of confidence is emerging, particularly around crypto and decentralized identity solutions. Despite their potential to empower individuals, concerns over surveillance, centralization, and the misuse of tools abound. The need to embed human rights principles like self-custody, universal personhood, and privacy-by-default into crypto architecture is imperative to legitimize these technologies. Self-custody must shift from being power-user-centric to accessible for all, balancing safety and simplicity. As bots and AI-generated content proliferate, providing proof of humanity while safeguarding individual autonomy is essential. Privacy should be integrated by design, with systems minimizing data collection. Addressing these ethical concerns while ensuring transparent governance and accountability will help prevent co-option. Builders in Web3 must act now to embed these rights into the foundational layer rather than retrofitting ethics later. Human rights are not just guidelines; they must become core operating principles for a digital future that serves humanity.

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