Vitalik: Ethereum's goal should be to build "shelter technology," not to imitate Apple or Google.

PANews reported on March 4th that, according to The Block, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated in an article on the X platform that Ethereum's goal is not to become a company like Apple or Google, but to build "shelter technology"—free and open-source technology that enables people to maintain their lives, work, communicate, manage risks, and accumulate wealth under external pressure. He emphasized that cryptocurrency should not be viewed merely as a technology industry focused on improving efficiency or pursuing glamour.

Buterin addressed community concerns about Ethereum's social impact, acknowledging its apparent absence in improving the lives of those affected by issues such as surveillance capitalism and armed conflict. However, he pointed out that Ethereum's role is to create a "digital space" where different entities can collaborate and interact, with its core value lying in advancing freedoms such as financial privacy and autonomy. Buterin proposed that by building sanctuary technologies, "de-totalization" can be achieved—reducing the likelihood of governments, corporations, or dominant actors gaining complete control while ensuring that dissent is not completely excluded.