News
Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum is outgrowing its founder
Vitalik Buterin reiterated that Ethereum can operate without his direct involvement, emphasizing a shift toward decentralized leadership. He made the remarks at the Network State Conference 2026 in Singapore on October 9. Buterin linked the transition to the “Lean Ethereum” roadmap, a major overhaul that aims to replace significant core components and could be accelerated by AI. He said the Ethereum Foundation should shrink and focus on censorship resistance, open‑source development, privacy and security. The co‑founder also cited a “walkaway test,” asserting the protocol should keep functioning even if any single team or person stops contributing.