Overview
- Buterin detailed personal moves away from mainstream apps, replacing Gmail with ProtonMail, Google Maps with OrganicMaps, Telegram with Signal, and cloud docs with Fileverse.
- He is testing local large language models to keep data on-device, noting higher power draw of about 35 watts with tools like Ollama and calling out fragmented user interfaces.
- He proposed privacy safeguards when cloud AI is unavoidable, including zero-knowledge payments, trusted execution environments, and local filtering to limit data exposure.
- He responded to complaints about using “niche” tools by arguing for principle‑driven choices over popularity and urging developers to build software that preserves user autonomy.
- Ethereum contributors plan 2026 efforts such as ZK‑EVM verification and improved local node support to reduce reliance on providers like Infura and Alchemy, while early market reaction was muted with ETH down roughly 3%.