Vitalik speaks out: Ethereum should re-examine its commitment to decentralization

LiquiditySurfer · 2026-01-17T05:52:11+00:00

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik believes that Ethereum has taken some detours over the past decade. He pointed out issues such as difficulty in node operation, data privacy concerns, and centralization of block construction, emphasizing the need to regain autonomy and the decentralization philosophy to achieve a better ecological balance.

LiquiditySurfer

2026-01-17 05:52:11

Abstract generation in progress

【BitPush】Ethereum co-founder Vitalik recently has some words to say. He feels that Ethereum has taken some detours over the past ten years.

He lists some issues that are quite sobering: running nodes is becoming increasingly difficult, DApp data leaks have become commonplace, wallets are gradually shifting from local RPC to relying on third-party services, and as a result, data privacy is lost. More importantly, the block construction process is becoming more centralized, with decision-making power in the hands of a few builders, affecting the inclusiveness and fairness of ordinary transactions.

Vitalik’s core point is clear: rather than blindly pursuing mainstream adoption at the expense of core values, it’s better to reclaim autonomy and the trustless principle, and rebuild a stronger decentralized ecosystem. This is not to say that Ethereum should deny itself, but to find a better balance between development and original intent.

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liquidation_watcher

· 5h ago

Damn, you're so right. The current running costs of ETH nodes are simply outrageous, ordinary people can't afford to play at all. The MEV sector is indeed tightly controlled by a few, and small retail investors are just being harvested.

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BlockchainRetirementHome

· 5h ago

Oh wow, Vitalik is right this time. We've definitely gone off track with decentralization. I have the most firsthand experience with nodes becoming increasingly difficult to run. It's no longer a game for individual players. Data leaks, loss of privacy, MEV being monopolized by big players... these are real issues. But on the other hand, can the situation really be reversed? It all depends on how subsequent actions follow up. Rebuilding a decentralized ecosystem sounds easy in theory, but in practice, it takes a lot of effort. Let's see how the community responds next; slogans are easy to shout. --- Why did Satoshi suddenly start talking about original intentions this time? Why didn't he do it earlier? --- I just want to ask, who has benefited the most from centralization over the past ten years? What about those mining pools and builders? --- Wow, breaking promises and still wanting to fix them? Feels a bit late. --- Decentralization vs. mainstream adoption, someone has to compromise on this balance. It's easy to say, but really difficult to do. --- If we really want to rebuild, we need to start from the bottom layer. The scope of this project... I estimate it will take at least three to five years to get it done.

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ContractBugHunter

· 5h ago

Damn, to put it simply, the idealism back then has now been fed a mouthful of dog food by reality... The feeling of increasing centralization over these ten years really hits home.

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LiquidityLarry

· 5h ago

Even the nodes can't run properly anymore. How can we talk about decentralization... Vitalik is right.

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