2026-01-08 10:24:58

On January 8th, Ethereum's V God Vitalik Buterin published a groundbreaking article discussing his thoughts on the future direction of Ethereum. He used an interesting comparative framework—taking BitTorrent and Linux as examples.

These two systems represent two different paths: BitTorrent aims for pure decentralization and censorship resistance, sharing files without relying on any central servers, which sounds very cool. But the problem is also evident—user experience is average, and functionality is limited.

Linux is different. It maintains the purity of open-source kernel technology while building a widely used foundational layer with a huge number of developers and numerous commercial applications. That’s true popularization.

Buterin's idea is straightforward: Ethereum needs to have both advantages. On one hand, it must preserve the decentralization and censorship resistance of BitTorrent because that is its core differentiator from traditional finance. On the other hand, it should learn from Linux to support large-scale, high-value applications—global payment networks, complex DeFi protocols, and truly socially meaningful public goods.

However, the reality is also clear: to scale up large applications, it’s inevitable to rely on some major infrastructure providers, which introduces centralization risks. Conversely, if it clings too tightly to technological purity, it might exclude ordinary users.

So the key is to find a balance. The community now needs to consider how to achieve the optimal trade-off between these two directions.

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IfIWereOnChain

· 01-11 09:37

Basically, it's a matter of choosing between fish and bear paws. Let's see how Vitalik handles it. Balancing these two factors is indeed difficult. In the end, it still depends on the ecosystem to work it out. Pure decentralization is really impractical; the Linux path is more realistic.

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GateUser-e87b21ee

· 01-11 04:46

It's nice to say it's about balance, but in reality, you want both fish and bear paws. Eventually, someone has to take the blame; the BitTorrent approach simply can't support large-scale applications. V神's way of thinking is just right; comparing Linux and BT is brilliant. The decentralized ideal sounds great, but in reality, users just don't care about it. Wait, doesn't that make the major infrastructure providers the new centralized points? How is that ideal? Feels like just sweeping issues under the rug—it's hard to make a choice.

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EthSandwichHero

· 01-10 15:38

That's right, V神's analogy is indeed brilliant. But to be honest, that balance point is much harder than it sounds, and we're still struggling with it. The real challenge is that once centralized systems get on board, it's extremely difficult to pull them back down. At that point, it will be no different from traditional finance. How does LinuxBitTorrent integrate? No one has really figured this out yet, and we're waiting. The tracks are different; we can't take the same path. But if I have to choose, I still stand on the side of purity. The risk of centralization must be taken seriously; it can't be ignored. The bigger the scale, the greater the risk—that's an iron law. V神 wants to have both fish and bear paws, but in the crypto world, such cheap options don't exist. Make your choice, everyone.

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PrivacyMaximalist

· 01-08 10:54

Basically, it's a dead loop. To achieve large-scale adoption, decentralization must be compromised; to stay pure, no one will use it. Is Vitalik just hyping it up?

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0xLuckbox

· 01-08 10:53

In simple terms, it's about whether you can have both fish and bear paws; V God’s move is quite ruthless. --- The BitTorrent approach is indeed pure, but it really feels uncomfortable to use. Linux is the true winner mindset. --- Decentralization vs. ease of use—this dilemma might take several years to sort out. --- Merely maintaining purity is useless; it must also be accessible to ordinary people. --- It seems that in the end, compromise is necessary; there is no perfect solution. --- The compatibility of BitTorrent's robustness and Linux's vitality is a bit like a fantasy. --- Here's the question: when it comes to choosing, can the community reach a consensus? --- This idea is good, but execution would definitely be a nightmare. Controlling centralized aspects is difficult. --- Wanting both is natural, but in the end, you will have to give up something. --- The Linux model is the way to go; decentralization enthusiasts need to face reality.

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HalfIsEmpty

· 01-08 10:51

It really sounds so simple, yet so difficult. Purity and practicality are always archrivals.

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screenshot_gains

· 01-08 10:35

That's right, balancing things is easy to talk about but hard to do. --- V神's thinking is indeed clear, but when it comes to implementation, it depends on how each public chain responds. --- Decentralization and usability are always at odds; how many people are trying to achieve both simultaneously? --- Linux's system is indeed impressive, but crypto must stick to its bottom line, or what's the point of you? --- Regarding centralized risks, with more infrastructure providers, we still need to be cautious; there are enough lessons from history. --- So in the end, it still depends on the ecosystem to find the answers; no matter how big V神's vision is, the community has to work together. --- The key issue is whether ordinary users will buy into it or not; complex DeFi protocols are simply too difficult for most people to understand or use.

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FadCatcher

· 01-08 10:35

Basically, it's about wanting both fish and bear paws, but can these two really be achieved simultaneously? It sounds ideal, but in practice, it probably involves stepping into pitfalls. Ethereum's current approach actually swings between these two extremes. Vitalik has thought it through clearly, but executing it is tough. However, I feel this is a question that the entire Web3 community has to face—the eternal contradiction between decentralization and usability. The risks of centralization are gradually eroding, but in doing so, it also loses its original spirit. The trade-offs are truly challenging. The idea of tipping big V influencers sounds appealing, but when it comes down to real-world applications, it's a different story.

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tx_or_didn't_happen

· 01-08 10:35

V God made this framework clear to me; essentially, it's the classic dilemma of "fish and bear's paw." To popularize it, compromises are necessary, but compromises mean losing the core... There's no perfect answer to this question. Learning that Linux system is indeed worthwhile, but can Ethereum achieve the same? Big question mark.

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governance_lurker

· 01-08 10:31

That's a good point, but in reality, you often can't have your cake and eat it too. In my opinion, the analogy made by V God is still too idealistic. Linux succeeded because it had the backing of commercial forces like IBM and Red Hat. What about Ethereum? Once large infrastructure providers are involved, compromises have to be made. Who will ensure that the original goal of decentralization isn't eroded? History always repeats itself. Actually, the problems with BitTorrent are not just poor user experience but also stigmatization. For Ethereum to follow the Linux path, the first step is to resolve the trust crisis—that's the main issue. Speaking of which, the current chaos in the L2 ecosystem is a side effect of this balancing act. Various sequencers piling up—it's just a sign of decentralization faltering. But to be neutral, this direction is still correct. If the ecosystem doesn't grow big enough, all the ideals of decentralization are meaningless.

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