Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called for a major reset of how Ethereum is governed. In a recent post, he said current governance relies too much on informal “vibes” and lacks real accountability.
Buterin proposed a clear two-layer governance model. The first layer would handle execution through open, market-based mechanisms similar to prediction markets. In this system, good decisions earn money, while bad decisions lose money.
The second layer would focus on preference-setting and oversight. Buterin said this layer must not use tokens, because token ownership is easy to capture by wealthy actors. Instead, it should be decentralized, pluralistic, and based on anonymous voting.
He also stressed the importance of privacy tools. Anonymous voting systems, possibly using zero-knowledge technology, could reduce collusion and protect participants from pressure or influence.
According to Buterin, separating execution from preference-setting is key. Markets should execute decisions efficiently, while a separate system should judge whether those decisions align with community values.
The post drew attention from builders already working on similar ideas. Some projects claim they are already using prediction market-style execution combined with non-financial preference voting on-chain.
The governance debate comes as Ethereum continues to focus on rollups, data availability, and privacy upgrades. These changes are designed to support more complex and scalable onchain systems.
Buterin’s message was direct. If Ethereum wants real decentralization and accountability, governance must move beyond vibes and adopt stronger, more transparent mechanisms.
