I just witnessed a rare civilisational-level conversation.
@VitalikButerin builds Ethereum.
@balajis predicts the collapse of old paradigms.
These are 10 predictions they made. A 🧵:
@VitalikButerin builds Ethereum.
@balajis predicts the collapse of old paradigms.
These are 10 predictions they made. A 🧵:
1: Balaji calls Ethereum the center-left of crypto.
Vitalik builds public goods.
He wants programmable equality, decentralized institutions, and fair coordination.
Balaji is center-right.
Wants opt-outs, exit, sovereignty.
Ethereum becomes the home for the “technocratic left.”
Vitalik builds public goods.
He wants programmable equality, decentralized institutions, and fair coordination.
Balaji is center-right.
Wants opt-outs, exit, sovereignty.
Ethereum becomes the home for the “technocratic left.”
2: DeFi is becoming safer but not safe yet.
Vitalik: “Risk is approaching TradFi.”
Balaji: “You risk 100% loss for 5% yield.”
Protocols aren't secure until they’ve survived a crisis, not just audits.
Time > TVL.
Vitalik: “Risk is approaching TradFi.”
Balaji: “You risk 100% loss for 5% yield.”
Protocols aren't secure until they’ve survived a crisis, not just audits.
Time > TVL.
3: The dollar is not as safe as you think.
“Only invest in USD what you can afford to lose.”
It sounds like a meme.
But for billions in Argentina, Nigeria, Lebanon it’s already true.
Stablecoins are infrastructure now (not experiments)
“Only invest in USD what you can afford to lose.”
It sounds like a meme.
But for billions in Argentina, Nigeria, Lebanon it’s already true.
Stablecoins are infrastructure now (not experiments)
4: DeFi's definition changes.
Balaji: “It’s what takes over after the system ends.”
Not an upgrade but a replacement.
Always on, borderless, composable.
DeFi isn’t just better plumbing.
It’s different physics for value.
(huge applause for this one)
Balaji: “It’s what takes over after the system ends.”
Not an upgrade but a replacement.
Always on, borderless, composable.
DeFi isn’t just better plumbing.
It’s different physics for value.
(huge applause for this one)
5: Crypto doesn’t weaken the dollar but it exposes it.
Vitalik: 99% of stablecoins back USD.
But that reinforces the dollar’s dominance until it doesn’t.
Once fiat goes online first it loses its geographic monopoly.
Fiat dies like newspapers did (slowly, then all at once)
Vitalik: 99% of stablecoins back USD.
But that reinforces the dollar’s dominance until it doesn’t.
Once fiat goes online first it loses its geographic monopoly.
Fiat dies like newspapers did (slowly, then all at once)
6: Prompting is here to stay.
Balaji: “Prompting is programming in English.”
It’s not a workaround but it’s a skill.
AI won’t replace humans but it’ll amplify the sharpest ones.
Clarity = leverage.
Balaji: “Prompting is programming in English.”
It’s not a workaround but it’s a skill.
AI won’t replace humans but it’ll amplify the sharpest ones.
Clarity = leverage.
7: AGI? Not God but just a founder.
Vitalik: “AGI is real when it builds a profitable company.”
That’s measurable. Practical.
Balaji agrees:
AI isn’t goal seeking but it’s pattern-matching.
The world still runs on human intent.
Vitalik: “AGI is real when it builds a profitable company.”
That’s measurable. Practical.
Balaji agrees:
AI isn’t goal seeking but it’s pattern-matching.
The world still runs on human intent.
8: DeSci = the DeFi of medicine.
Today’s health system profits from illness.
DeSci flips that.
Truth-first. Peer-verified.
Science as code, not pharma marketing.
Balaji’s bet:
DeSci is the real alternative to institutional decay.
Today’s health system profits from illness.
DeSci flips that.
Truth-first. Peer-verified.
Science as code, not pharma marketing.
Balaji’s bet:
DeSci is the real alternative to institutional decay.
9: Ethereum needs a north star.
DAUs? Price? TVL?
Vitalik: Just get people to use it.
Balaji: DeFi is the post-fiat matrix.
Once value is online, everything becomes tradable.
Liquidity without banks. Markets without borders.
(a lot more was asked which I cant disclose xD)
DAUs? Price? TVL?
Vitalik: Just get people to use it.
Balaji: DeFi is the post-fiat matrix.
Once value is online, everything becomes tradable.
Liquidity without banks. Markets without borders.
(a lot more was asked which I cant disclose xD)
10: The system won’t reform. It will be rebuilt.
Balaji sees the internet vs DC.
Vitalik sees crypto as a system of fairer rules.
Both agree: the old world is shattering.
The next one won’t be built in DC.
It’ll be coded. On chain.
Balaji sees the internet vs DC.
Vitalik sees crypto as a system of fairer rules.
Both agree: the old world is shattering.
The next one won’t be built in DC.
It’ll be coded. On chain.
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