A Post-Vitalik Ethereum Could Still Thrive, Says Co-Founder

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said during an October 9, 2026 interview with Balaji Srinivasan at the Network State Conference that Ethereum’s continued development without his constant involvement shows the project is maturing. He described decentralization as a transition from one leader to many rather than to none, and said contributors across the Ethereum Foundation and wider community are increasingly taking initiative and upholding values such as security and privacy. Buterin proposed Ethereum in a 2013 whitepaper; it launched in July 2015 as a smart-contract platform and later shifted to proof-of-stake. He also said sustained public attention can be draining.