Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin Urges Shift Toward a Sovereign Web Model

TLDR

Table of Contents

Vitalik Buterin calls current internet models “corposlop” driven by data harvesting and algorithmic manipulation.
He urges developers to build local-first tools that minimize third-party reliance.
Buterin proposes open AI systems that support productivity over passive engagement.
He rejects financial platforms promoting high-leverage speculation and short-term gains.

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has urged developers to build a “sovereign web” that protects users from corporate control. In a statement on January 10, he criticized current digital platforms for prioritizing profit through data collection, closed systems, and manipulative algorithms. He proposed tools that promote user privacy, financial sustainability, and open AI systems.

Vitalik Buterin Urges Development of Privacy-First Digital Tools

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called for a shift in internet development practices on January 10. In a public statement, he proposed a roadmap for building a “sovereign web,” aiming to reduce user dependence on centralized digital platforms.

He criticized large tech companies for creating systems that exploit user attention and collect data for profit. He described these environments as “corposlop” — a term combining corporate greed with harmful digital design. Buterin argued these platforms prioritize user engagement metrics through closed platforms and algorithmic control.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin posted on Farcaster defining "Corposlop" as a combination of corporate optimization, sleek branding, and behavior that sacrifices ethics for profit maximization. Vitalik called for building tools to support a "Sovereign Web," such as…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 10, 2026

He said, “The modern internet runs on dopamine loops, not user autonomy.” According to him, digital sovereignty must go beyond resisting government censorship and now include protection from corporate manipulation.

Call for Local-First and Privacy-Driven Applications

Buterin encouraged developers to create local-first applications that protect user data and reduce third-party reliance. These tools would run on personal devices and store minimal data externally, helping users retain more control over their information.

He believes such applications can help reduce exposure to algorithm-driven interfaces designed to capture attention. By using cryptographic methods, he said users can prevent exploitation from large platforms that harvest data in exchange for free access to services.

This vision contrasts with current mainstream systems that often limit user options and lock them into ecosystems controlled by large firms. Buterin emphasized the need to move away from closed networks that block interoperability.

Financial Tools Should Support Long-Term Stability

In his roadmap, Buterin also focused on reshaping digital financial systems. He called for tools that support sustainable wealth building instead of encouraging high-risk speculation.

He rejected platforms that function like “sports betting,” where users engage in high-leverage trading without considering long-term consequences. Instead, he proposed financial designs that favor steady, low-risk accumulation and better serve user goals.

He wrote, “True digital sovereignty includes rejecting platforms built for hype cycles and short-term profit extraction.”

Advocacy for Open AI that Enhances Productivity

Another point in Buterin’s statement involved artificial intelligence. He said AI systems should assist human productivity, rather than promote passivity or manipulate engagement.

He called for open-source AI that integrates with personal workflows while giving users full control over how these tools operate. Buterin said this approach is essential to counter software models that treat users as data sources rather than active participants.

By combining cryptographic privacy, local-first design, and open AI, Buterin aims to create an internet that restores user independence from large tech firms. He acknowledged some early blockchain communities anticipated these challenges but said the urgency has now grown.