Jacob Robert Steeves
Jacob Robert Steeves is a Peru-based Co-founder of Bittensor, an open-source protocol that powers a decentralized, blockchain-based machine-learning network. [1][2][3]
Education
Jacob Robert Steeves attended Simon Fraser University where he studied for a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Mathematics and Computer Science in 2011-2015. [2]
Career
Jacob Steeves started out as a Machine Learning Researcher at Knowm Inc. from 2015 to 2016. Afterward, he worked at Google as a Software Engineer from December 2016 to April 2018. He then co-founded Bittensor, where his leadership came under scrutiny in April 2026 following a public dispute with a key network developer. [2][7]
Bittensor
Bittensor is a mining network, similar to Bitcoin that offers censorship-resistant access to a decentralized network of machine learning models. It presents a strategy for the development and distribution of artificial intelligence technology through the utilization of a distributed ledger. This involves aspects such as open access/ownership, decentralized governance, and the utilization of globally distributed computing resources within an incentivized framework. [1][3]
In April 2026, the project's decentralized governance model was challenged when key subnet developer Covenant AI announced its departure from the network. Covenant AI's founder accused Jacob Steeves of maintaining centralized control, an allegation Steeves publicly denied. [8]
Bittensor utilizes the TAO token, its native cryptocurrency to incentivize AI technology development and distribution. TAO also grants external access, allowing users to extract information from the network while tuning its activities to their needs. It is used for governance, staking, and as a means of payment for accessing AI services and applications built on the Bittensor TAO network. [3][5][6]
"We're building a massive decentralized neural network that's aimed at better understanding the information in the world around us" - Jacob Reeves[4]
Controversy
Covenant AI Departure
In April 2026, Steeves became the center of a public governance dispute. On April 10, 2026, key subnet developer Covenant AI announced it was leaving the Bittensor network. The project's founder, Sam Dare, accused Steeves (known by the alias "Const") of undermining the protocol's decentralized principles, labeling his actions as "decentralization theatre." [7] [8]
Dare's allegations included claims that Steeves unilaterally suspended token emissions to Covenant's subnets, restricted their community moderation powers, and applied "direct economic pressure" by selling his personal TAO token holdings during the conflict. [9] [8]
Steeves responded to the accusations on the social media platform X on the same day, denying that he had any special privileges to suspend emissions. He acknowledged selling some of his holdings in Covenant's subnets—stating it was "less than 1% of what I had invested"—and justified the sale by claiming the subnets "were not running and were on near 100% burn code." He also stated that he only "temporarily removed the team’s ability to delete posts before restoring it." [7] [8]
The public dispute resulted in market turmoil for Bittensor's native token, TAO, which saw its price drop by approximately 18-20% on April 10, 2026. [9] [8]