Buterin urges a 'sovereign web' of privacy-first, local tools

Beincrypto reports that Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin on January 10 urged developers to build a “sovereign web” of digital tools designed to protect user independence and privacy from corporate control.

Buterin argued the modern internet is optimized for corporate profit through data extraction, engagement manipulation and closed platforms — a dynamic he labeled “corposlop.” He said this model combines polished branding with predatory optimization to maximize short-term engagement metrics, fosters unnecessary mass data collection and creates “walled gardens” that block interoperability and disempower users.

Buterin called for a redefinition of sovereignty to include psychological autonomy, writing that “[Sovereignty] means doing things because you believe in them, and declaring independence from the homogenizing and soul-sucking concept of ‘the meta.’” He outlined a roadmap urging privacy-preserving, local-first applications, financial tools that support sustainable wealth accumulation while rejecting high-leverage speculation or “sports betting” behavior, and open AI systems that merge human and machine productivity rather than fostering passivity.

Key Topics

Crypto, Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum, Sovereign Web, Corposlop, Privacy-preserving Tools