Coin WorldMonday, Jul 7, 2025 12:50 am ET

1min read

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has emphasized the importance of sustainability and privacy in the next phase of Ethereum's development. He defended Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake (PoS) as a significant step toward reducing the blockchain's energy consumption. Buterin highlighted that the transition to PoS eliminates the need for powerful mining machines, which are required by proof-of-work (PoW) networks like Bitcoin. This shift enhances network efficiency and supports long-term environmental sustainability goals.

Buterin also addressed concerns about the environmental impact of global travel for crypto events. He argued that the carbon footprint from flying to these events is a necessary trade-off to maintain a geographically diverse crypto community. He believes that the environmental cost of travel is less harmful than the energy costs associated with mining activities. This stance underscores Ethereum's commitment to balancing global participation with environmental responsibility.

In addition to sustainability, Buterin voiced strong support for privacy in blockchain systems. He publicly backed Roman Storm, a developer of Tornado Cash, who is facing legal charges in the U.S. for allegedly enabling crypto mixing to evade sanctions. Buterin helped raise over $750,000 for Storm’s legal defense, emphasizing that privacy tools are essential for user protection and ensuring transaction safety in decentralized systems. He stressed that privacy is not solely for criminal use but is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of blockchain transactions.

Buterin's remarks came during a conference where industry participants discussed the implications of consensus mechanisms on blockchain ecosystems. The Ethereum upgrade to PoS aims to lead a broader shift in the crypto sector toward energy efficiency and sustainability. The conference also featured sessions on Ethereum’s technical progress, decentralized finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), introducing new tools and projects to support ecosystem growth. Developers announced partnerships and community-driven initiatives focused on improving adoption and utility, reflecting Ethereum’s ongoing effort to align with sustainability and legal transparency.