According to Vitalik Buterin, crypto-maximalists foresaw the greatest threat to Bitcoin, which became corporate manipulation masquerading as user empowerment and innovation.
Ether co-founder Vitalik Buterin authored a provocative confession: Bitcoin maximalists have been right all along. They saw the biggest threat of crypto in its early days.
On X, Buterin concurred with the recent analysis that separates the so-called corposlop web and the so-called sovereign web. Bitcoin maximalists had already signaled this to him, which he had not noticed previously.
According to a tweet by Butterin, Bitcoin maximalists were against ICOs and other tokens to maintain the sovereignty of Bitcoin, so they should not use arbitrary financial applications.
The Fatal Flaw in Bitcoin Maxi Strategy
Bitcoin maximalists committed the wrong of trying to achieve sovereignty by cracking down on governments and severely restricting the functions of Bitcoin.
Buterin explains the meaning of corporatocracy to be a blend of three components: the power of corporate optimization initially, the slick branding that acquires respectability, and the profit-maximizing behaviors that destroy the respectability.
Social media relies on dopamine and outrage and is not interested in long-term value. They gather huge data volumes that are not needed and misuse or sell them.
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Why Corporations Betray Digital Sovereignty
Walled gardens demand monopolistic prices and shut out rivals, and Hollywood generates sequels to minimize the risk.
As reported by Buterin, in 2020, companies adopted diversity slogans, but in 2025, they mocked the same causes as part of engagement trends.
Buterin quoted the previous Aztec take by Zac. According to Zac_Aztec on X, Corposlop is a major adversary, and this does not contravene the libertarian concept.
Modern sovereignty is not confined to the control of the government; digital privacy through cryptography is also essential, and it is crucial to protect minds against the manipulation by corporations.
Buterin suggests developing sovereign tools: apps that preserve privacy, are local-first, and reduce reliance on third parties. Social media platforms that are controlled by users should pursue long-term objectives.
Financial instruments must enable users to become wealth responsible. AI is supposed to enhance productivity by involving human-bot collaboration, and apps require visions and culture.
DAOs can support organizations that have special objectives. Privacy preservation voting prevents capture patterns and token-holder governance needs replacement.
In spite of monopolistic behavior, Apple exhibits non-corporate. It is long-term vision-oriented as opposed to quarterly, and its emphasis on privacy is its distinguishing feature.
Buterin admires Apple with its visionary, fashionable attitude and would like it to embrace open-source policies, saying that the market limits should not determine the intent.
Community: either develop sovereign tools or become a corporatist. This has been the first thing Bitcoin maximalists anticipated.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/bitcoin-maxis-predicted-cryptos-existential-corporate-threat/