Ethereum Co-Founder Buterin Warns Web3 Founders Against Sacrificing Freedom for Growth

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently addressed the crypto community at EthCC, drawing parallels between the early internet era and the current state of Web3. He cautioned against repeating the mistakes of Web2, where the libertarian spirit of the 1990s internet, championed by figures like John Perry Barlow, was eventually lost to corporate control and censorship. Buterin urged today’s Web3 founders to avoid becoming the next generation of “freedom advocates turned gatekeepers.”

Buterin emphasized the moral weight and societal impact of cryptographic tools, asking developers, “Are you making your users more free?” He warned that as blockchain ecosystems grow more sophisticated and attract institutional backing, there’s a risk of sacrificing decentralization for comfort and freedom for growth. The spirit of the cypherpunk movement, rooted in privacy, resistance to censorship, and building parallel systems, is under pressure from increasing government and corporate involvement in the space.

This tension has created a growing divide within the crypto world: those preserving the original anti-establishment ideals versus “suitcoiners,” or institutional players focused on financial upside. Buterin’s message was clear — if Web3 is to succeed on its own terms, its builders must stay vigilant, not just about what they’re building, but why they’re building it. He urged developers to focus on liberating humanity through their work, rather than being driven solely by financial gains.

Buterin's call to action underscores the philosophical and ethical considerations that should guide the development of Web3 technologies. By emphasizing the importance of freedom, he is advocating for a decentralized future where technology serves the greater good, rather than being a tool for profit maximization. This perspective aligns with the broader vision of Web3, which aims to create a more equitable and transparent digital ecosystem. Buterin's speech highlights the need for a balanced approach that considers both technological innovation and the ethical implications of such advancements.