Century's Transition
In a world where technology is rapidly evolving, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has put forth a unique philosophy: defensive accelerationism (d/acc). Last November, Buterin introduced this optimistic tech philosophy in a lengthy post titled "My techno-optimism."
Buterin distinguishes between defensive and offensive technologies, arguing that a world that promotes defense is better for many reasons. He suggests that defensive technologies should be accelerated as quickly as possible to be prepared for the acceleration of offensive technologies.
This theory was further evident when Buterin experienced a turning point in February 2022, witnessing the start of state-organized Russian mass murder on foreign soil. In response, Buterin began using anonymization protocols to donate anonymously, first with Tornado Cash, then with Railgun, a privacy protocol on Ethereum.
Recently, Buterin purchased the ENS address "dacc.eth" for approximately $500, and he has transferred 400 Ether (around one million dollars) to the Railgun protocol in a recent transaction. These actions underscore Buterin's commitment to privacy and anonymity in the digital realm.
Buterin's belief in the importance of privacy extends beyond his personal actions. He advocates for more privacy on blockchain due to his own financial transparency, stating that privacy should be "normal" and not the exception, but the standard.
In addition to privacy, Buterin believes that blockchains should live up to their ideals of protecting human freedom, granting autonomy and privacy, and creating financial independence. He emphasizes the importance of developing decentralized, defensive technologies based on blockchain to counter offensive threats.
Buterin's eight visible wallets contain a total of 746 million dollars, with the majority in Ether (729 million dollars) and USDC (16 million). The first transactions associated with Buterin related to the Railgun protocol were conducted with the address "0x9fdbd1e2b30fcfefe7dd24a099d70a48f31c08b".
Buterin's transactions are publicly visible and often reflect his movements and interests. His views on defensive accelerationism extend to various areas, including digital defense, vaccines, and censorship. He argues that strong defensive technologies can make the offensive unnecessary and preserve freedoms.
As Buterin continues to shape the crypto-space, he is seeking and formulating a second vision to better meet the needs and challenges of the 21st century. His commitment to defensive accelerationism suggests that privacy, decentralization, and freedom will remain at the forefront of his work.
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