Vitalik Buterin recently provided a detailed explanation of the new mandate from the Ethereum Foundation, which has garnered significant attention. Personally, I see this announcement as a crucial turning point that will clarify the future direction Ethereum aims to pursue.

At the core of the new mandate introduced by the Foundation are the CROPS principles. These refer to four elements: Censorship Resistance, Open Source, Privacy, and Security. Buterin emphasizes that these should remain fundamental to Ethereum at both the protocol level and access layer.

Interestingly, Buterin repeatedly pointed out that the Ethereum Foundation is merely a single steward. It does not control everything; rather, it functions within a larger ecosystem. Instead, the Foundation’s role is focused on preserving and expanding the unique characteristics that make the network special.

At the protocol level, the focus will be on addressing priorities such as decentralization, verifiability, activity, and inclusion guarantees. Technical upgrades like scaling and account abstraction are positioned as means to realize these principles. The goal is to enable users to have more direct control without overly relying on intermediaries.

On the application layer, Buterin states that efforts will be concentrated on improving “zero options.” In other words, developing tools that allow non-expert users to conduct on-chain transactions safely and privately without intermediaries.

Throughout Buterin’s statements, a clear message emerges: Ethereum is positioned as a “sanctuary technology.” The aim is to protect technological sovereignty and build a system that is not governed by a single organization or fixed ideology.

It’s also important to note that this mandate serves as an internal guide for the Ethereum Foundation, not a set of rules for the broader ecosystem. Buterin explicitly states this. In other words, it does not restrict the freedom of other developers or projects but clarifies what the Foundation itself will focus on.

Personally, I believe this stance will strengthen Ethereum’s resilience in the long term. It avoids centralization of power while safeguarding core values. Moreover, it gradually introduces more participants into the ecosystem. Such an approach could be the foundation for Ethereum to continue functioning as an “infinite garden.”