Ethereum Co-Founder Buterin Emphasizes Social Philosophy in Application Layer

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has highlighted the significance of a robust social philosophy in the development of the application layer. In a recent post on Warpcast, Buterin asserted that the application layer is the critical phase where good social philosophy is most essential. He believes that the values and beliefs of developers significantly influence the features and potential contributions of the applications they build.

Buterin pointed out that while the core infrastructure of Ethereum, such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) opcodes, is relatively general and not heavily influenced by social philosophy, the application layer is different. The applications built on Ethereum are largely dedicated to specific purposes, and the goals they aim to achieve are deeply rooted in the developers' social philosophy. For instance, developers who do not believe in decentralization may not contribute to features like light clients or account abstractions, while those who are indifferent to energy waste may not prioritize migrating to Proof of Stake (PoS).

Buterin provided examples of applications that he believes embody good social philosophy, including Railgun, Farcaster, Polymarket, and Signal. These applications, he argues, align with the cypherpunk ethos and contribute positively to the Ethereum ecosystem. Conversely, he criticized applications like Pump.fun, Terra/Luna, and FTX, citing their misalignment with the values and goals of the Ethereum community.

The distinction between good and bad applications, according to Buterin, lies in the beliefs and values of the developers. He stressed that having good ideas for applications is crucially important and that this is where good social philosophy is needed most. Developers with the right values and a strong social philosophy are essential for the continued growth and success of the Ethereum application layer.

Buterin's comments underscore the importance of ethical considerations in the development of blockchain technology. As the application layer of Ethereum continues to grow, the values and beliefs of developers will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the ecosystem. By emphasizing the need for good social philosophy, Buterin is calling on developers to build applications that align with the core values of decentralization, privacy, and community empowerment.