In his latest statement to the blockchain community, Vitalik Buterin, one of the founders of Ethereum, stated that Ethereum’s road map should change to prioritize freedom, privacy and protection of digital life rather than financial applications. Buterin, who has long stood out with his emphasis on decentralization and technological innovation, pointed out that the platform did not use its existing technological opportunities more effectively.
Privacy and Digital Freedom Concerns
Vitalik Buterin, who is considered one of the visionary names in the crypto ecosystem, underlined that increasing state and corporate surveillance in the world, the social effects of artificial intelligence and the fact that social media feeds polarization are matters of concern for many people. In this context, he emphasized that the Ethereum network has not played a sufficient role in providing solutions to these problems so far.
Among applications and initiatives, Buterin cited examples such as Starlink, open source AI models and encrypted communication application Signal as projects that offer tangible benefits to people. He stated that Ethereum has had a more limited impact in this area to date.
Vitalik Buterin said, “In my conversations with many people, I have seen that state control and surveillance, the power of corporations, the transformation of social media into a conflict area and similar developments at the point where the world is today create serious concern.”
What Does “Sanctuary Tech” Mean?
What Buterin means by the concept of “sanctuary technology” stands out as technologies that are free and open source, resistant to external pressures and provide real digital autonomy to users. He pointed out that such tools offer people the opportunity to act without pressure from central authorities in areas such as communication, financial management and collective collaboration.
Buterin emphasized that the main goal of Ethereum is not only financial restructuring, but also to prevent different actors from monopolizing society. He argued that it is necessary to contribute to the construction of a system in which the rights of not only the winners but also the losers are protected, that is, a system that includes all fans in power struggles.
Call for a Non-Financial Blockchain Ecosystem
Buterin evaluated that Ethereum’s focus only on financial applications would create a lack of vision. According to him, although a decentralized financial infrastructure solves some problems, it is insufficient to solve deep issues such as digital freedom and privacy.
Calling on the Ethereum community to create a fully comprehensive ecosystem, Buterin emphasized a whole that would include hardware, software, artificial intelligence-based interfaces and physical security. In this approach, the aim is to build digital spaces that are owned by no one and are for the benefit of everyone.
Buterin stated that technology will have no meaning unless it meets the needs of real users. In this regard, he emphasized the need to develop solutions that can benefit especially oppressed groups and those restricted by central structures.
