Vitalik Buterin delivered a keynote speech at EthCC on July 2, 2025, emphasizing the need for blockchain developers to prioritize human freedom over technological advancements.

He posed a critical question for developers: 'Are you making your users free?' to encourage a focus on individual liberty within crypto projects.

Buterin drew a parallel between the current blockchain ethos and the early internet's principles of individual liberty, noting a significant loss during the Web2 era.

In his address, he criticized Web2 as a series of 'walled gardens,' highlighting how its founders, who once championed freedom, have often implemented censorship policies.

The Ethereum co-founder stressed the importance of understanding the social and moral implications of the cryptographic technologies being developed.

This call for freedom aligns with the cypherpunk movement, which advocates for privacy and freedom through encryption, contrasting sharply with the growing institutional interest in crypto.

The rise of institutional players, referred to as 'suitcoiners,' has created a divide in the crypto community between those seeking growth and those wishing to uphold the original anti-establishment values of the industry.