In a recent New Year message, Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, provided a comprehensive evaluation of the network”s advancements and reaffirmed its foundational mission. Through his insights shared on his X account, Buterin highlighted that Ethereum made notable progress in 2025 in terms of speed, reliability, and scalability, while warning against the risks of deviating into trends driven by fleeting narratives.
Buterin underscored that the ultimate objective is to fulfill the concept of a “world computer.” He stated that Ethereum”s enhancements in 2025 contributed to its ability to accommodate a higher volume of transactions and ease the operation for node runners. These improvements are designed to facilitate growth while ensuring that decentralization remains intact.
In his assessment, Buterin pointed out that the vision of Ethereum as a shared, neutral layer for computation transcends mere technical upgrades. It aims to transition the platform from a conventional blockchain into a universally accessible infrastructure. He argued that for sustainable applications in sectors such as finance, identity verification, and governance to emerge, the platform must function independently of trusted intermediaries.
Buterin also expressed his concerns regarding the pursuit of temporary surges in usage triggered by popular trends. He criticized the reliance on tokenized currencies, political memes, or fabricated economic signals, asserting that these do not contribute to the long-term goals of Ethereum.
Two key conditions were emphasized by Buterin for Ethereum”s future: the need for global usability and the importance of maintaining true decentralization. He explained that for Ethereum to serve millions effectively, applications must seamlessly integrate into daily life. Additionally, he stressed that preserving a decentralized architecture across all levels, including wallets and infrastructure services, is crucial.
Buterin introduced the “walkaway test” principle, stating that applications should remain operational even if their developers were to disappear. Furthermore, the user experience should not suffer if significant infrastructure providers were to cease functioning. He reflected on the past when everyday software adhered to similar principles, which have diminished with the rise of subscription-based centralized services.
