Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, highlights the need for privacy in Web3, arguing that it should be a foundational principle in developing technologies.
Old Assumptions Can No Longer Be Trusted
Buterin calls outdated the naive beliefs that "governments act in good faith" and "technology evolves solely for the good of humanity." According to him, these narratives are dangerously naive in today's surveillance landscape.
Rather than trusting institutions to protect user data, Buterin insists that systems' architectures must enforce privacy by design. "Information is power," Buterin warns, "and that power must not be concentrated."
Tech Solutions for a Private Future
Buterin suggests specific technologies to bolster privacy in blockchain ecosystems. Chief among these are Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)—cryptographic tools that allow users to prove truths without exposing personal data. For instance, a user could confirm they are over 18 without disclosing their birthdate or identity.
He also points to Ethereum's newly developed privacy pools, which enable users to maintain transaction confidentiality without compromising network integrity. These tools represent a new generation of programmable cryptography, providing privacy even within public blockchain systems.
Developer Responsibility
Buterin's message stresses that if Web3 is to fulfill its promises of decentralization and empowerment, developers must make privacy a default principle—not an afterthought. He urges builders to integrate privacy-enhancing features at the protocol level and to avoid over-reliance on centralized data governance models.
According to Buterin, privacy is not merely a right—it is a foundational pillar of a truly free and open digital society.
Vitalik Buterin's call to action encourages consideration of the necessity to integrate privacy into the next stages of Web3 technology development to safeguard personal data for all users.
