Vitalik Buterin Urges Bold Ethereum App-Layer Experiments While Defending Core Principles

On March 5, Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin published a long post on X urging developers to pursue much bolder, open‑minded experimentation at Ethereum’s application layer without weakening the blockchain’s core security and censorship‑resistance properties. He argues that the current stack around L2s, wallets, DeFi, oracles and emerging AI agents often recentralizes risks and should be rebuilt as AI‑native, privacy‑first applications that still inherit Ethereum’s trustless guarantees. Buterin also criticizes a short‑term, casino‑style culture around memecoins and NFTs, calling instead for "sanctuary tech" that can serve users facing real censorship, capital controls or economic stress.