Dawn of a new millennium
In a series of recent developments, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shown a growing interest in privacy and defensive technologies within the crypto space.
Last November, Buterin introduced the concept of 'defensive accelerationism' (d/acc) in a lengthy post titled 'My techno-optimism.' The foundation of this philosophy is 'effective accelerationism,' an optimistic tech philosophy that technological progress has more benefits than drawbacks.
Buterin differentiates between defensive and offensive technologies, and believes that a world that promotes defense is better because it results in fewer deaths, less economic value destruction, and less waste on conflicts.
One of the key technologies Buterin has been supporting is Railgun, a smart contract that helps users anonymize their tokens on Ethereum, similar to the now-sanctioned mixer Tornado Cash. Buterin has transferred 400 Ether (approximately one million dollars) to the Railgun protocol, a privacy protocol on Ethereum, twice, once recently and once almost a year ago.
Buterin's wallet reveals his interest not only in privacy but also in 'd/acc.' One can sometimes trace his thoughts in his wallet, as he purchased the ENS address 'dacc.eth' for around $500 a few days before describing the concept of 'defensive accelerationism' (d/acc) on a Twitter Space.
The co-founder of Ethereum has eight publicly visible wallets containing a total of 746 million dollars, with the majority in Ether (729 million dollars) and USDC (16 million).
Buterin's focus on privacy stems from his own experience of financial transparency. On February 23, 2022, he began using anonymization protocols to donate anonymously due to his discomfort with the start of state-organized Russian mass murder on foreign soil.
As Buterin looks to shape the development of the crypto-space, he aims to return to the ideals of blockchain technology. He wants to develop the cryptocurrency world by focusing on continuous technological improvements and expanding practical applications beyond mere price speculation, thereby increasing the long-term value and utility of blockchain platforms like Ethereum.
Buterin sympathizes with the view of 'effective accelerationism' in some areas, like medicine, but is more skeptical about other technologies, like AI or military tech. He believes that blockchains should live up to their ideals and promote a utopia of a better world, instead of risking a dystopia.
Recently, Buterin has started to delve deeper into technologies that make Ethereum more private, such as Stealth Addresses. His previous neutral, morality-free approach to Ethereum had a price, and he seeks to formulate a second vision for the crypto-space that better meets the needs and challenges of the 21st century.
Read also:
- Dual-function mattress offers both cooling and coziness at an affordable price.
- Top-Notch Weed Killers for Fences in 2025: Efficient Boundary Management Solutions for a Clean Fence Line
- United Kingdom should refrain from hastily deciding on hydrogen home heating, according to Scotland's appeal.
- Guide to Choosing Spain's Leading Animation Company
