Ethereum co-founder warns closed systems risk monopolies and public mistrust
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called for building open-source, verifiable infrastructure across healthcare, finance, and governance, warning that reliance on closed systems increases risks of abuse, inefficiency, and monopolization.
The dangers of closed infrastructure
In a recent blog post, Buterin argued that as digital technology becomes deeply embedded in daily life, society must choose between centralized, opaque systems and open, verifiable alternatives.
“The civilizations that gained the most from new waves of technology are not the ones who consumed the technology, but the ones who produced it,” he wrote, adding that “openness and verifiability can fight against global balkanization.”
Buterin warned that without deliberate effort, critical infrastructure will default to centralized corporate control: “By default, we will likely get digital computer things that are built and run by centralized corporations. But we can try to steer toward a better alternative.”
Open systems for healthcare, finance, and voting
Buterin highlighted healthcare as a sector where closed systems can create data monopolies and surveillance risks. He pointed to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as an example, noting how proprietary manufacturing and communication reduced public trust. Open initiatives like PopVax, he said, demonstrate how transparency can reduce costs and skepticism.
In finance, Buterin contrasted the speed of blockchain transactions with outdated legal processes. “It took me five seconds to sign a crypto transaction, compared to half an hour and $119 to ship a signed legal form overseas,” he explained, arguing that crypto wallets and blockchain-based tools already show the efficiency of open, verifiable systems.
Voting, he added, requires especially secure and transparent infrastructure. Buterin criticized decades of reliance on proprietary “black box” voting machines, which he said cannot deliver true public trust.
Privacy as a design goal
The Ethereum co-founder also stressed that privacy must be central to infrastructure design, not an afterthought. In April, he unveiled a privacy roadmap for Ethereum, outlining both protocol-level improvements and ecosystem changes to strengthen user protection.
For Buterin, the path forward is clear: critical public systems must be open, auditable, and privacy-respecting to safeguard trust and prevent centralized abuse.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.