Buterin Warns Crypto Against ‘Corposlop’, Pushes Sovereignty

• Tom Kruise predicts a fragmented internet, weaker globalism, and rising focus on energy, compute, and digital sovereignty.

• Vitalik Buterin warns of a “corposlop web,” urging cryptography and privacy tools to protect user attention and autonomy.

• Zachary Williamson says ad-driven incentives erode agency, pointing to zero-knowledge systems as a path to user sovereignty.

A series of public statements from 2024 through early 2026 outlined a shift in how technology power may grow. Market commentator Tom Kruise released long-range predictions covering geopolitics, labor, and the internet’s structure. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin and Aztec founder Zachary Williamson later responded online, detailing concerns around digital sovereignty, corporate incentives, and user autonomy.

Predictions Point to Fragmentation and Control

Kruise’s 2026–2030 outlook described declining globalism and rising national resilience, according to his published comments. Notably, he cited energy, compute, food, and mineral sovereignty as strategic priorities. He also described a fragmented internet, divided into open, fortress, and sovereign networks.

However, Kruise also pointed to constant gray-zone conflict. He listed cyber pressure, satellite interference, and infrastructure disruptions as baseline conditions. As a result, he said digital presence, attention, and authenticity may gain economic value.

Vitalik Buterin Highlights “Corposlop” Risks

Responding publicly, Vitalik Buterin said he agreed with roughly 60% of Kruise’s claims. However, he emphasized the divide between what he called the “corposlop web” and a sovereign alternative.

According to Buterin, corposlop combines corporate optimization, polished branding, and profit-driven behavior. He listed social media engagement tactics, mass data collection, and closed platforms as examples.

However, he contrasted this with privacy-focused, opinionated tools that empower users. Notably, he argued sovereignty now includes protecting attention and personal data through cryptography.

Zachary Williamson Warns of Incentive Failure

Aztec founder Zachary Williamson expanded on these concerns in a detailed essay released in 2024. According to Williamson, advertising incentives drove the attention economy’s growth.

He stated this model weakened shared narratives and reduced human agency. However, Williamson pointed to zero-knowledge cryptography and privacy-preserving blockchains as alternatives.

He described tools like zkEmail and zkPassport as methods to prove information without exposing data. As a result, he said new payment and credential systems could reduce reliance on surveillance-based platforms.