Bitcoin Maximalists Were Right About Sovereignty, Says Buterin

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin has reignited debate over the future of digital sovereignty, drawing a sharp line between what he calls “corposlop” and the “sovereign web.” In a recent post, Buterin argued that much of today’s online experience is dominated by corporate incentives that masquerade as user service while eroding autonomy.

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Corposlop, as he defines it, blends three forces: corporate optimization power, polished branding that projects respectability, and profit‑driven behavior that undermines users. Examples range from social media platforms engineered for dopamine hits to walled gardens like Apple’s App Store, where high fees and restricted linking limit choice. He also pointed to Hollywood’s endless sequels and corporations that pivoted from diversity slogans in 2020 to mocking those same causes in 2025.

Buterin contrasted this with the sovereign web, a vision rooted in privacy, cryptography, and independence from homogenizing trends. He credited Bitcoin maximalists for recognizing the threat early, even if their solutions—government crackdowns or limiting Bitcoin’s script—were flawed. The underlying fear, he said, was valid: corporate capture of digital life.

Apple earned a mixed review. Buterin acknowledged its long‑term vision and privacy focus as non‑corposlop traits, but criticized its monopolistic practices. He urged a shift toward open‑source strategies, even at the expense of market capitalization.

Looking forward, Buterin called for tools that empower rather than exploit: local‑first apps that minimize data leaks, social platforms that prioritize long‑term fulfillment, financial services that avoid predatory leverage, and AI systems that teach rather than replace human effort. He also highlighted DAOs with privacy‑preserving voting as a way to resist capture by entrenched interests.

“Be sovereign. Reject corposlop. Believe in somETHing,” he concluded, framing the fight not just as technical but cultural—an appeal to build systems that serve human dignity over corporate profit.