Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, is doubling what he believes is privacy, the most underrated strength in cryptography. In his latest X post, he calls it “true alpha” and focuses on decentralization to protect users’ data and autonomy in an increasingly monitored world, as well as scalability.
Buterin’s take is based on both philosophy and code. This is normal for creators of Ethereum (ETH).
He recently shared a technical update that includes an advanced zero-knowledge proof system. It is a mathematical tool that allows users to prove things without revealing the underlying information. These tools are no longer abstract theories. They are built into the Ethereum app focused on privacy.
Privacy has always been a true alpha. https://t.co/fcao1lensn pic.twitter.com/od3if4l62k
– vitalik.eth (@vitalikbuterin) May 4, 2025
His broader message was clear and expressed in his April essay. Without privacy, other crypto values such as openness and decentralization begin to collapse. He describes privacy as essential to freedom, social order and innovation.
It gives individuals a space to act constantly and without fear of judgment and manipulation, and in a world where AI and biometric technology are rapidly advancing, according to Buterin, protecting personal data is more urgent than ever.
Vitalik Buterin believes that the “true alpha” of privacy is not only protecting individual users, but also making the larger system work. From fair elections to fair AI, too many of the wrong kinds of transparency can lead to manipulation and confusion. The proper use of privacy will help to balance these systems.
From corporate data leaks to nation-state surveillance, Vitalik Buterin argued that the safest bet is to design a system that avoids collecting sensitive information in the first place. Cryptographic tools such as full homomorphic encryption or zero-knowledge proof can be key.
