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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is calling for open source infrastructure across vital sectors such as healthcare, finance and governance warning that centralized closed systems erode trust and security.
In a Wednesday blog post, Buterin argued that as digital tools become more embedded in everyday life adopting open source infrastructure is essential to prevent abuse, monopolization and systemic fragility.
“History shows that the civilizations which gained the most from technological revolutions were not those that merely consumed them but those that created them,”
Buterin wrote, adding that openness and verifiability are key to preventing global balkanization
According to him, open source infrastructure can help societies build resilience while ensuring transparency.
Buterin envisions a future where verifiable devices form the backbone of global systems.
“If left unchecked, digital systems will most likely end up being built and controlled by centralized corporations,” he warned.
“But we can try to steer toward a better alternative through open source infrastructure.”
He warned that proprietary health technology risks limiting access, creating data monopolies and exposing users to surveillance. Buterin cited the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as an example where closed systems undermined public trust, contrasting it with initiatives like PopVax, which use open source infrastructure to reduce costs and skepticism.
Similar challenges apply to finance. Buterin highlighted the stark difference between signing a crypto transaction in five seconds versus spending half an hour and $119 to send a legal form overseas. He said crypto wallets and blockchain based systems already demonstrate how open source infrastructure can streamline processes and reduce inefficiency.
Turning to governance, Buterin called for secure, verifiable hardware and software for voting systems. He noted that decades of mistrust toward electronic voting machines stem from reliance on proprietary “black box” solutions, adding that open source infrastructure is the only path to true public accountability.
Privacy remains a cornerstone of his vision. In April, Buterin said privacy must be built into design goals rather than relying on transparency or benevolent leadership. He has since introduced a privacy roadmap for Ethereum, outlining short term protocol upgrades and ecosystem changes aligned with the same principles driving open source infrastructure adoption.
Through his essay, Buterin makes the case that open source infrastructure is not just a technical choice but a societal necessity for trust, efficiency and fairness in the digital age.
