7 Vitalik Buterin Insights: Ethereum vs “Race for AGI” and its Impact on Crypto

Jakarta, Pintu News – Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s stance has caught the attention of the tech and crypto world once again after he stated that the narrative of the global race towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is problematic and needs a new approach that is more secure, decentralized, and integrated with the Ethereum blockchain network. This approach has the potential to influence how developers and investors view the relationship between AI and cryptocurrency.

1. Vitalik’s Critique of the “Race for AGI” Narrative

Buterin believes that the “race to AGI-fastest wins” framework is wrong and dangerous because it prioritizes status over safety. He underscores that the focus on speed can make AI development outpace adequate supervision and control systems. With this point of view, he wants to shift the discussion from competition to more responsible governance.

According to Buterin, this fast-paced approach increases the risk of systemic errors and fails to meet safety standards. This is exacerbated when a small number of large companies control powerful AI technologies. His criticism reflects broader concerns in the tech community about the unchecked social impact of AGI.

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2. Alternative Proposal: Ethereum-based “AI Ethos”

Alternatively, Buterin proposes a framework that strengthens Ethereum’s role as a base layer for a decentralized AI ecosystem. According to him, the Ethereum blockchain could be the infrastructure that supports secure AI interactions, including through a marketplace of AI agents and more transparent shared governance.

The framework includes four main elements: network infrastructure, privacy through local AI models, economic coordination between AIs using on-chain payments, and governance through decentralized crypto systems. In this way, AI is not only developed by a handful of entities but by the wider community.

3. Ethereum as a Foundation for Open and Secure AI

Buterin sees Ethereum not just as a smart contract platform, but also as a neutral base to spread the power of AI more evenly. In this model, various actors can run AI agents that transact and coordinate with each other directly using the blockchain protocol, without the need to rely on a centralized entity.

This approach also includes the use of cryptographic tools such as zero-knowledge proofs to ensure privacy and accountability. This opens up the possibility of advanced AI while still respecting user data control and privacy boundaries.

4. Prioritization on Privacy and Local AI Models

In his speech, Buterin emphasized the importance of AI models that run locally, on the user’s device, so that personal data does not have to be handed over to a central system. This approach aims to reduce the risk of privacy violations or data domination by large companies.

Local models also allow AI to be run closer to the user’s needs, while giving more control over how the data is used. This is in contrast to the current model which often favors big data from many users to train centralized AI.

5. AI Governance through Crypto Systems

One of the key aspects of Buterin’s proposal is the use of governance mechanisms based on crypto principles, such as decentralized voting and economic incentives, to govern AI development. Such mechanisms differ from the current dominant centralized control in large AI labs.

With more democratic governance in place, Buterin hopes that strategic decisions about AI won’t just be made by a few. Instead, the global community can have a say in the direction of the technology through a transparent and verifiable system on the blockchain.

6. Implications for the Crypto Industry and Investors

Ethereum’s approach to AI integration could expand Ethereum’s utility narrative beyond just smart contracts and DeFi. It could attract developers and investors to build projects that combine AI with decentralization.

For crypto investors, this strategy demonstrates Ethereum’s long-term potential as a relevant technological infrastructure not only in the digital asset market but also in the global AI evolution. This could be one of the factors to consider in investment decisions.

7. What Does This Mean for the Future of Technology?

With his critique of the “race for AGI” narrative, Buterin encourages a broader debate on how AI should be developed in an era of increasingly complex technology. He does not reject advanced AI, but emphasizes that AI development should consider safety, ethics, and decentralized control.

This vision reflects an effort to combine the power of crypto with the grand challenges on the AI front, creating more inclusive and socially responsible solutions. For the tech ecosystem in general, it opens a new chapter of collaboration between blockchain and artificial intelligence.

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Reference

• Vismaya V/Decrypt. Vitalik Buterin Calls for Ethereum-Led Alternative to the ‘Race for AGI’. Accessed February 11, 2026.