Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum was never intended to be the fastest or most convenient system. In an article shared on X, Buterin explained that Ethereum’s main goal is resilience, not efficiency.
“Ethereum was not created to make finance efficient or practical applications. It was created to free people,” he wrote, referencing ideas from the Trustless Manifesto.
Buterin’s comments sparked debate in the crypto space, especially as users often compare Ethereum to faster and cheaper blockchains.
“Ethereum was not created to make finance efficient or practical applications. It was created to free people”
This is an important – and controversial – phrase from the No Trust Manifesto ( ), and it’s worth revisiting and better understanding what it’s about…
– vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 5, 2026
Ethereum Resilience vs. Efficiency Explained
Buterin explained that efficiency focuses on small improvements. This includes reducing app load time from 473 milliseconds to 368 milliseconds or increasing yields from 4.5% APY to 5.3% APY. Convenience, he said, is about fewer clicks and faster signups.
He admitted that these things matter. However, he also noted that Ethereum will never be able to compete with big tech companies like Google or other Silicon Valley companies in terms of speed and ease of use.
Instead, Ethereum is playing a different game. This game is resilience.
Resilience, according to Buterin, means reducing the risk of total failure. It’s not about making a little more profit. This is to avoid a total loss, such as -100% APY.
Why Vitalik says resilience is important
Buterin said a resilient network continues to function even when there are major problems. These issues include political pressure, app developer shutdowns, cloud service failure, or even global cyber conflicts.
According to him, Ethereum should always allow anyone, anywhere to access and participate in the network on an equal basis. This is what he calls digital sovereignty. This means reducing reliance on systems that can be taken down without warning.
Ethereum is not the world. Ethereum is an informed view of properties that we believe should be available globally to those who want or need them.
We must be willing to stick strictly to our principles and recognize the costs, and yes, sometimes be the…
– vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 5, 2026
He compared Ethereum to Linux, not Google. Linux values openness and stability, even though it is slower. Google values speed and convenience.
Buterin acknowledged that this choice comes at a cost. Ethereum may seem slower. Fees can sometimes remain high. But he believes that respecting these principles is more important.
“Ethereum doesn’t break you,” he said. “And that should be fine if it means it’s slower.”
Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz does not constitute financial advice. It is intended for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the editors/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur as a result of investments related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, perform thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
