Vitalik's Choice: Why Autonomy Comes Before User Volume

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently expressed a seemingly contrarian view—criticizing the mindset of blindly chasing “tools everyone is using” and instead embracing niche decentralized tools. This is not only a declaration of philosophy but also a lifestyle he is actively practicing.

Shift in Philosophy: From Compromise to Principles

Why abandon mainstream tools

Vitalik pointed out that pursuing the “most used tools” is itself a trap. These mainstream tools often collect user data and leave backdoors for multiple governments. While this reliance seems convenient, it actually gradually erodes autonomy. He cites Liberty Reserve, a former payment project—it’s this “everyone is using” mentality that ultimately caused the project to lose its principles and be hijacked by interest groups.

In contrast, Bitcoin was created and succeeded precisely because its creators adhered to a simple but firm principle: building tools that protect user autonomy and freedom, rather than pursuing the largest user base.

Actions are already underway

This is not just Vitalik’s empty talk. According to recent updates, he has largely completed the migration of his tools:

• Switching from Telegram to Signal (messaging app)
• Moving from traditional document tools to Fileverse (decentralized encrypted document platform)
• Accessing decentralized social protocols like Lens, Farcaster, Bluesky through multi-client tools such as Firefly.social on social media

These are relatively niche choices, but each represents a prioritization of autonomy.

Broader Decentralization Awakening

From social to infrastructure

Interestingly, Vitalik’s philosophical shift is not isolated. According to related information, he plans to fully return to decentralized social networks by 2026 and has put forward a key point: If we want a better society, we must have better mass communication tools, not centralized platforms focused on short-term engagement and speculation.

This implies he believes real change must start at the foundational tools level. Decentralization is not just a technical feature but a competitive mechanism—by sharing data layers, anyone can build their own client, breaking the monopoly of a single platform.

Criticism of crypto social projects

Vitalik also criticizes some crypto social projects for deviating from this direction. He pointed out that “forcing a speculative token onto social products” does not constitute innovation. Projects trying to create price bubbles with tokens often reward existing social capital rather than content quality, ultimately leading to token zeroing out and project failure.

Promoting protocol-level decentralization

On a more technical level, Vitalik recently proposed introducing native DVT (Distributed Validator Technology) at the Ethereum protocol layer. This reflects the same logic: reducing single points of failure through technical design and promoting true decentralization among validators, rather than relying on external coordination.

What does this mean

Personal perspective

This series of actions reflects Vitalik’s consistent thinking: Principles over convenience, autonomy over user numbers, long-term value over short-term gains. It may seem less “pragmatic,” but from Bitcoin’s success to Ethereum’s evolution, projects that stick to principles tend to have more lasting vitality.

Possible impacts

Vitalik’s shift could create ripple effects within the crypto community. When a key figure begins to practice decentralization through action, it influences developers’ tool choices, project design directions, and even users’ understanding of “what true Web3 is.”

This does not mean decentralized tools will immediately replace centralized platforms—the gap in user numbers remains huge. But it shows that within the crypto ecosystem, there is a force rethinking what is truly worth building.

Summary

Vitalik’s recent statements and actions essentially answer an age-old question: Are you willing to sacrifice freedom for convenience? His answer is no. From Telegram to Signal, from Google Docs to Fileverse, these seemingly small tool switches are actually a vote for a理念—autonomy is not optional but a bottom line.

This persistence may not make him the “most popular person,” but in the crypto world, it could be the most valuable choice. It is worth watching whether this philosophy will become the mainstream consensus of the crypto community by 2026.