Vitalik's social network declaration: Why leave X and turn to decentralized platforms

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin announced a major shift on January 21 — he will fully return to decentralized social networks by 2026. This is not only a personal choice but also a systematic critique of the structural issues of current mainstream social platforms. He uses the term “corposlop” to directly point to the fundamental problem of many platforms and projects: manipulating users through algorithms and tokens, rather than genuinely improving information dissemination.

The Platform Illnesses in Vitalik’s View

Centralized platform information distortion mechanisms

Vitalik believes that the current algorithm-driven, user-stickiness-centered centralized platforms have fundamental flaws. These platforms prioritize displaying content that triggers emotional reactions rather than high-quality information. What is the result? Rational consensus in society becomes fragmented, and users are trapped in their own information bubbles.

He emphasizes that a healthier public communication system should prioritize high-quality content that serves users’ long-term interests, rather than being dominated by short-term click rates and emotional stimuli. This sounds simple, but for commercialized centralized platforms, it is nearly impossible — because their business models are built on user stickiness and advertising.

Criticism of the “Token万能论” (Token万能 Theory)

Vitalik’s critique of crypto-native social projects is equally sharp. He points out that many teams mistakenly believe that introducing speculative tokens equals innovation, but in reality, it often amplifies existing social inequalities. Token price increases reward those with influence, not content quality. Ultimately, when bubbles burst, these projects tend to fail.

He straightforwardly states that this is not the evolution of an information market but “corposlop” — a hypocritical model that packages speculation as innovation. This viewpoint serves as a wake-up call for the entire crypto social ecosystem: tokens are not a panacea; governance mechanisms and content incentives are key.

The True Value of Decentralized Social

Competition and user control are core

Vitalik emphasizes that the greatest value of decentralization lies in introducing genuine competition. When multiple clients are built on the same shared data layer, no single platform or algorithm can monopolize user attention. This means users have real choice — if they are dissatisfied with a client’s algorithm or design, they can switch to another without losing their data and social connections.

This stands in stark contrast to current centralized platforms. On X, Instagram, and others, your data is locked to the platform, and algorithms are controlled unilaterally by the platform, leaving you to passively accept.

Practice of cross-protocol experience

Vitalik reveals that since early 2026, he has been doing almost all his reading and writing through Firefly. The beauty of this tool is that it can connect to multiple networks like X, Lens, Farcaster, and Bluesky simultaneously. This cross-protocol experience allows him to intuitively feel how decentralized tools coexist with centralized platforms and gradually direct traffic toward more open social infrastructure.

In other words, you don’t have to abandon existing platforms all at once; you can manage multiple identities through a unified interface and gradually experience the benefits of decentralization.

Specific Action Plan

Vitalik has a clear vision for the future decentralized social ecosystem. He is optimistic about Aave’s long-term investment in Lens, believing that the new team taking over the project has deep experience in crypto social fields. He plans to speak more frequently on Lens this year and encourages users to explore decentralized platforms like Farcaster.

This is not a radical “completely abandon centralized platforms” stance but a pragmatic migration strategy — maintaining contact with existing audiences while gradually shifting to decentralized platforms.

Summary

Vitalik’s remarks reflect a deep internal reflection within the crypto community: technological innovation is not just about performance and scalability but also about the distribution of power and the fundamental interests of users. From his perspective as Ethereum’s co-founder, he criticizes not only the algorithmic monopoly of centralized social platforms but also the restless mindset of crypto projects that treat tokens as universal keys.

For Vitalik, 2026 is a symbolic turning point — from a technical builder to an ecosystem critic and practitioner. The core message behind this is simple: the value of decentralization does not lie in tokens but in giving users real choices and control over their data. In an era where information is manipulated by algorithms and platforms monopolize user attention, such voices are especially important.