Бутерин предлагает противостоять монополиям с помощью враждебной интероперабельности и децентрализации Translated Buterin proposes to combat monopolies through hostile interoperability and decentralization.

Protecting society from the concentration of power is a crucial element for ensuring safe technological advancement, according to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

In the article «Balance of Power,» the author identifies three power centers: the state, corporations, and uncontrolled civil society. The programmer believes that humanity values the progress provided by these institutions but is wary of their potential to gain excessive influence.

The monopolization of power poses threats to personal freedoms, leads to social instability, and culminates in a «soulless» unification of culture.

Historically, this balance was maintained by two natural mechanisms:

*»If you visualize a leader as a cheetah and the followers as turtles, the first force acts as an internal brake on the cheetah, while the second serves as an invisible spring pushing the turtles forward,» Buterin explained.*

However, in the 21st century, both mechanisms have weakened due to globalization, automation, and the advent of proprietary systems.

*»The result: the limitations on growth are increasing, while the diffusion of control is diminishing. Yes, the exchange of ideas on the internet has sped up, but the actual capacity to influence key systems has become more centralized than ever,» the programmer emphasized.*

As a solution, Buterin proposed the concept of «forced diffusion»—the deliberate distribution of control over technologies. This toolkit includes implementing standardized protocols (like the USB-C example in the European Union), abolishing non-compete agreements, and utilizing copyleft licenses.

A key component of this strategy must be «hostile interoperability.» This approach enables the creation of products that operate over popular platforms while circumventing their restrictions. This allows developers to seize control of the interface and return power to the user.

Implementation examples:

*»In the Web2 model, platforms capture value primarily through monopolies on interfaces and user experiences. Building compatible yet alternative interfaces undermines that monopoly,» Buterin clarified.*

In his view, decentralization is not an abstract notion but a functional principle that should be integrated into the architecture of a platform from the outset. The programmer stressed that developers should consider not only funding but also governance structure:

*»Any serious project should develop not just a business model for funding but a decentralization model—mechanisms that prevent power from concentrating within the project and generating associated threats.»*

He cited the Lido pool as an example of conscious decentralization. Despite controlling 24% of staked ETH, the pool does not pose threats to the network due to its distributed governance through a DAO and numerous independent operators.

Buterin also highlighted the concept of d/acc—developing open defensive technologies. He believes this approach ensures the security of systems while avoiding total centralization.

Earlier, client developer Geth Peter Siladji pointed out the concentration of power around Buterin. According to him, the rules of the entire ecosystem depend on the programmer’s opinion.

Around the same time, Polygon’s head, Sandeep Nailwal, stated that there was a crisis of loyalty within the leadership of the second-largest cryptocurrency network.