Vitalik Buterin Says Decentralized Social Is the Path Forward for Better Online

Buterin argues that decentralized social and user control are key to fixing online discourse and avoiding manipulation.

Vitalik Buterin has renewed his support for decentralized social media, calling open and competitive platforms essential for better online communication. He made the comments in response to Lens announcing that Mask Network will take over stewardship of the protocol. Buterin also said that his planned return to decentralized social in 2026 reflects a push for tools that serve users’ long-term interests.

Vitalik Buterin Plans Deeper Move Into Decentralized Social Platforms

Buterin stated that in 2026, he plans to be fully active on decentralised social platforms, adding that his shift has already begun. Since the start of this year, every post he has written or read has been done through Firefly. The multi-client tool connects platforms such as X, Lens, Farcaster, and Bluesky.

He described this setup as an early example of how shared data layers allow many different clients to coexist while giving users choice and flexibility. According to Buterin, such tools should surface strong arguments, help people find agreement, and serve long-term user interests rather than chasing clicks. 

No single feature can solve these issues, he said, but competition is a necessary starting point. Decentralization makes this possible by allowing anyone to build on top of shared social data rather than locking users into a single platform.

Buterin also welcomed the transition of Lens stewardship from the Aave team to Mask Network. Aave was credited for laying the groundwork for Lens, and optimism was expressed about the new team. He also noted that its members have long focused on the “social” side of crypto, including early work on encrypted messaging.

He plans to post more frequently on Lens and encourages others to spend time across decentralized platforms such as Lens and Farcaster.

Criticism of Token-Driven Social Models

Alongside his support for decentralized social, Buterin offered sharp criticism of how many crypto-based social projects have been built. He argued that adding a speculative token is often mistaken for innovation, even when it fails to improve user experience or content quality.

Buterin noted that mixing money and social interaction is not always a problem. Pointing to Substack as an example, he stated that subscriptions help support high-quality writing. Problems arise when platforms create price speculation around individuals rather than rewarding good content.

Over the past decade, many projects have tried to boost creators by turning them into tradeable assets. In his view, these efforts usually fail because they reward existing popularity instead of quality, and the tokens tend to collapse within a short time.

He also criticized what he described as overly complex arguments, claiming that new markets automatically improve information flow. When product decisions show little concern for helping users benefit from that information, such claims fall apart. 

Buterin labeled this pattern “corposlop,” a term he uses for social platforms that chase profit through manipulation while presenting a polished public image.

Earlier this month, he described corposlop as the dark side of modern social platforms. It combines heavy corporate control with polished branding while quietly pushing outrage and dopamine-driven feeds. These platforms rely on constant data collection and growth metrics, often at the cost of user well-being, privacy, and long-term value.

Buterin Says Digital Sovereignty Starts With User Control, Not Platforms

Vitalik Buterin said he agrees with many criticisms of modern social media but believes a key distinction is often overlooked. He draws a clear line between the open web and what he calls the Sovereign Web. The Sovereign Web focuses on privacy-preserving, local-first applications where users control their data, content feeds, and financial tools.

He acknowledged that Bitcoin maximalists recognized part of this problem early on. Their resistance to ICOs and complex financial layers was to keep Bitcoin sovereign. However, he argued that attempts to protect sovereignty through strict limits or external pressure often caused new problems.

For Buterin, real digital sovereignty does not come from shutting things down. It comes from giving users power. Decentralized social platforms, if built by teams that genuinely care about social interaction, can help move the internet in that direction.

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