Vitalik Buterin Reasserts Ethereum’s Purpose as Freedom Infrastructure, Not Fintech Optimization

Overview

• Buterin says Ethereum was created to set people free, rejecting a mandate to make finance efficient or apps convenient.
• He frames resilience as minimizing the risk of total loss rather than chasing small yield improvements, contrasting -100% risk with marginal APY gains.
• The network’s design is intended to keep working during crises, including provider outages or if app developers disappear, with access preserved for anyone worldwide.
• He argues that decentralized, permissionless, resilient blockspace is scarce and represents Ethereum’s core long-term value, which should be prioritized before scaling for abundance.
• Buterin contends Ethereum should not try to outcompete Big Tech on latency or UX, a stance that drew mixed community reactions focused on usability and fees.