Ethereum Co-Founder Buterin Urges Blockchain Developers to Prioritize Human Freedom

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin delivered a keynote speech at EthCC, urging blockchain developers to prioritize human freedom through their innovations rather than focusing solely on technical advancements. Buterin drew a parallel between the early internet's emphasis on individual liberty in the 1990s and the current ethos in blockchain technology. He cautioned that many Web2 founders, who initially presented themselves as champions of freedom, later implemented censorship policies, creating what he described as "walled gardens."

Buterin warned Web3 founders not to repeat the same mistakes, emphasizing the social and moral implications of their work. He advised developers to ask themselves whether their creations are truly liberating for users. This message comes at a time when the crypto industry is grappling with the tension between institutional adoption and preserving its anti-establishment roots. The sector faces a growing concern about sacrificing decentralization and freedom for growth and comfort, as institutional players gain more influence.

This concern reflects the broader crypto community's worry about losing its core values as blockchain ecosystems attract more institutional backing. Buterin's emphasis on user freedom resonates with those who fear the industry is moving away from its original purpose of providing alternatives to centralized financial systems. The cypherpunk movement, which underpinned crypto in its earliest days, now faces challenges from institutional inertia. The shift towards institutional support has raised questions about whether this money strengthens or weakens crypto's foundational principles.

The cryptocurrency sector is now divided between those focused on growth and those who want to preserve the early anti-establishment ethos. This division has created an "invisible tug-of-war" between institutional actors, dubbed "suitcoiners" by Bitcoin advocates, and developers and users who prioritize censorship resistance and financial sovereignty. Institutional actors bring significant capital and legitimacy but often prioritize regulatory compliance and mainstream adoption over privacy and decentralization.

Seth For Privacy, vice president of Cake Wallet, warns that the pursuit of institutional investors and price appreciation has led to Bitcoin rapidly becoming just another traditional financial instrument. This concern extends beyond Bitcoin to the broader blockchain ecosystem. The tension affects how projects develop and market themselves, as institutional adoption brings scale, credibility, and infrastructure maturity but also introduces custodial risk, potential censorship, and ideological drift. Buterin's speech serves as a reminder that the technology's ultimate success depends on whether it achieves its original goal of increasing human freedom rather than simply creating new financial instruments for existing power structures.