TLDR
- Buterin says Ethereum apps must work without fraud, censorship, or third-party control.
- Ethereum passed two 2025 upgrades: Pectra in May and Fusaka in December.
- Fusaka enabled PeerDAS to improve data sampling for higher scalability.
- Buterin says apps must survive even if original developers walk away.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called on developers to focus on creating decentralized applications that are usable at scale. In a New Year’s message posted on X, he cautioned against prioritizing trends or “winning the next meta” over the core mission of Ethereum.
He said that Ethereum must become the foundation for an open and free internet. According to Buterin, decentralization must be present both at the blockchain and application layers. He noted that this approach ensures resistance to censorship and corporate control.
NEW: VITALIK SAYS ETHEREUM $ETH NEEDS STRONGER DECENTRALIZATION AND BETTER USABILITY TO BECOME THE ‘WORLD COMPUTER’ pic.twitter.com/n3T2rJk4OI
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“But to achieve this, it needs to be (i) usable, and usable at scale, and (ii) actually decentralized,” he wrote.
Buterin stressed the importance of what he called the “walkaway test.” He explained that decentralized apps must continue operating even if the original developers leave or stop maintaining them.
Focusing on the Core Principles of Ethereum
Buterin emphasized that real decentralization means users must not rely on a single point of failure. Applications should not depend on a specific cloud provider or organization. Instead, they should be able to function under any condition, including political shifts or infrastructure failures.
He pointed to the increasing control of tech products by centralized platforms. In his view, Ethereum’s mission is to reverse that trend by building systems that cannot be shut down or altered by outside influence.
“Applications should transcend all external variables,” he wrote, listing cloud service suspensions, bankruptcies, and ideologies among the risks Ethereum apps should outlast.
Buterin added that decentralization should include the tools and software used to access the blockchain. These layers should be as censorship-resistant and trustless as the blockchain itself.
Ethereum’s 2025 Upgrades Improve Efficiency and Scaling
In 2025, Ethereum completed two major upgrades — Pectra and Fusaka — aimed at increasing scalability and lowering costs. Pectra, activated in May, enhanced blob throughput and introduced account abstraction. It also increased the validator staking limit, improving participation flexibility.
Fusaka followed in December and introduced PeerDAS, a system that improves data availability sampling. This allows Ethereum to support more data blobs without burdening nodes, improving the scalability of rollups and other layer-2 systems.
Both upgrades are part of Ethereum’s long-term roadmap, which focuses on rollup scalability and modular design.
Ethereum Tools Advance, but Core Values Must Remain
Despite the progress in scalability and cost efficiency, Buterin’s message suggests that developers should stay focused on Ethereum’s foundational goals. He warned that technological progress is not enough if decentralization is compromised in the process.
He acknowledged that Ethereum already has powerful tools to build decentralized infrastructure. However, he said these tools must be used in ways that uphold the values of openness and censorship resistance.
“Fortunately, we have powerful tools on our side — but we need to apply them, and we will,” Buterin wrote.
While ether’s price currently remains at $3,008, the upgrades and Buterin’s message appear aimed at ensuring the network’s resilience and relevance in the years ahead.
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