Buterin: Bitcoin Maxis Right, Calls for Sovereign Web

Vitalik Buterin’s critique centers on what he describes as ‘corposlop’—a blend of corporate power, polished branding, and user-hostile behavior that has come to dominate the online experience. According to the Ethereum co-founder, this phenomenon includes attention-grabbing social media feeds designed for maximum engagement, large-scale data harvesting practices, closed platforms that block links to competitors, and risk-averse, repetitive media output. Buterin contends that while these systems appear helpful on the surface, they are methodically stripping users of genuine choice and agency, framing the battle for online autonomy as a fight against these profit-driven architectures.

This analysis was prompted by a January 1 post from X user Tom Kruise, who predicted the internet would fragment into three distinct realms: an ‘open web,’ a heavily controlled ‘fortress web,’ and a smaller, encrypted ‘sovereign web’ built on trust. Buterin stated he agreed with roughly 60% of this outlook, highlighting a long-overlooked divide between truly user-controlled systems and the corporate alternatives. His stance aligns with recent criticisms of major platforms, including a December warning that X had become a magnet for hostility and algorithm-driven outrage, and earlier concerns about location-label features posing risks to vulnerable users.

Buterin gave significant credit to early Bitcoin supporters, or ‘maximalists,’ for sensing this corporate encroachment years ago. He noted that their resistance to Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), alternative tokens, and overly complex applications was rooted in a desire to keep the Bitcoin network independent and free from corporate incentives. However, Buterin argued that where this camp went wrong was in its methodology—often relying on heavy protocol limits or appeals to state pressure rather than developing positive tools that actively expand user freedom and capability.

Looking ahead, Buterin outlined a concrete vision for building a user-first ‘sovereign web.’ His priorities include local-first applications that minimize data sharing with central servers, social platforms that grant individuals direct algorithmic control over their feeds, and financial tools designed to avoid pushing users toward extreme risk-taking. He also advocated for open, privacy-focused artificial intelligence systems that support and augment human work rather than seeking to replace it entirely.

Buterin’s views find resonance with other figures in the privacy and crypto space. Zac Williamson, founder of the privacy-focused blockchain Aztec, has similarly argued that the current attention economy has weakened shared public understanding and effectively turned users into products. While Williamson warned that changing these entrenched incentives would involve conflict and trade-offs, he agreed that cryptography and decentralized systems offer a viable path forward.

Yet, some community voices urge caution. Commentator Mark Paul noted that while cryptocurrency began as an alternative to corporate-heavy technology, it has often ended up mirroring the same structures it sought to replace. He suggested, however, that the sector may still outgrow this phase. For Buterin, this underscores that the core challenge is as much cultural as it is technical. Building the sovereign web requires not just new code, but a commitment to developing tools that inherently respect privacy, resist manipulation, and give people the room to think and act on their own terms. His closing message was a direct call to action: reject systems that drain human agency and commit to software that unequivocally puts users back in control.