Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin urged blockchain developers to prioritize human liberation over complex technology at the EthCC conference on Wednesday. He stressed that the true value of cryptocurrency lies in its ability to free people from traditional financial systems and government control.
Buterin drew parallels between the individual liberty ethos of the early internet in the 1990s and the current state of blockchain. He noted that the free and open internet championed by early digital rights advocate John Perry Barlow was lost in the Web2 era. Buterin characterized Web2 as a collection of "walled gardens," cautioning that many Web2 founders, now known for censorship policies, initially presented themselves as freedom advocates. He warned Web3 founders against falling into the same trap.
Buterin emphasized the importance of considering the social and moral implications of cryptographic development. He urged developers to ask themselves, "If you are building something, the first question to ask is: Are you making your users free?".
Buterin believes that crypto has reached a significant turning point, marked by mainstream adoption from major institutions and political figures. He said that crypto is no longer a niche space where people can come up with “crazy stuff” that make it difficult to navigate. Because of this evolutionary shift, Buterin believes there also needs to be a philosophical shift in crypto builders' mind when they're thinking about what to build in the space and how it can contribute to decentralization.
He highlighted areas in the crypto space that need improvement. Many Layer 2 solutions, DEXs, and similar apps claim to be decentralized but often have hidden backdoors or upgrade keys that can be triggered without user consent. This undermines the trustless nature of the blockchain. He also criticized the current governance model of DAO token holders, observing that voting power often turns into an auction, letting people "buy" the most number of votes.
Buterin's vision extends beyond cryptocurrency, shaping how decentralized systems can improve scalability, governance, security, and real-world applications. His ideas have influenced everything from Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake to advancements in zero-knowledge proofs, Layer-2 scaling, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Buterin's 2025 priorities for Ethereum development include single-slot finality, statelessness, enhanced privacy, and decentralized infrastructure. Single-slot finality would allow blocks to become final in a single slot within 12 seconds, significantly reducing the time needed to confirm transactions. Making Ethereum stateless would lead to nodes no longer storing the full state, potentially improving scalability and decentralization.
He also expects to dedicate his attention to improving communication tools, information sharing, and the social layer surrounding Ethereum. This includes governance changes, the network's resources management and open-source development funding. He also hinted at developing prediction markets and related technology, as well as some potential new types of communication tools. Buterin also expects to study ways to improve the ecosystem's cybersecurity, resilience, and decentralization. He set some objectives that he specified should also apply to client software, such as third-party wallets: “Ensuring Ethereum is usable in a way that is highly secure, free of centralized intermediaries and privacy-friendly."
Buterin envisions a future where Ethereum is accessible to everyone, removing barriers and simplifying the Web3 experience. His mission focuses on inclusivity, ensuring technology empowers both beginners and seasoned users. He wants these L2s to work together seamlessly, like a team and is encouraging developers to make sure you can pay fees on L2 networks using Ethereum's currency, called ETH.
Ultimately, Buterin’s call to action is a reminder that the crypto community must remain vigilant in protecting the values that initially drove the development of blockchain technology. As the industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for developers and enthusiasts alike to stay true to the mission of creating a more equitable and transparent financial system. By focusing on the freedom and empowerment that crypto can offer, the community can ensure that the technology remains true to its original purpose.
