Vitalik says Ethereum Must Stand Strong if All Core Developers Walk Away Someday

Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum should stay secure and functional even if all core developers leave, speaking at Hong Kong Web3 Festival.

Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum must remain strong even if all core developers leave one day.

He made the comment at the 4th Hong Kong Web3 Festival on April 20, 2026.

He said Ethereum was not built to win a race for speed. Instead, he said it was built to be secure, decentralized, and reliable for the long term.

Ethereum Must Be Able to Run Without its Core Team

Buterin said Ethereum should pass what he called the “walkaway test.” In simple terms, the network should keep working if core developers step away.

He said that goal matters for any system that aims to last for many years.

He compared that idea to Bitcoin. Bitcoin is often seen as a network that can keep running without daily guidance.

In the same way, Buterin said Ethereum should become stable enough to stand on its own.

That goal reflects a wider view of decentralization. A blockchain should not depend on a few people forever.

Instead, it should work through open rules, shared tools, and a broad community.

Buterin’s comments focused on long-term trust. He said Ethereum should serve as a foundation people can rely on.

As a result, the network’s design must support continuity, even during major changes.

AI, Formal Verification, and Quantum Resistance Shape The Next Stage

Buterin said Ethereum is advancing formal verification with help from AI. Formal verification checks whether software works as expected under strict rules.

In turn, it can reduce mistakes in code and improve system safety.

He linked that work to Ethereum’s role as a home for long-term digital assets. A network that protects large amounts of value needs strong technical checks.

So, better code testing remains part of Ethereum’s wider development path.

Buterin also said Ethereum is working on quantum resistance. This refers to efforts that prepare for possible future threats from quantum computing.

While that technology is still developing, blockchain teams have discussed the risk for years.

Taken together, these efforts support Ethereum’s long-term direction.

Buterin said the network should remain useful even without constant involvement from core developers.

For that reason, security, resilience, and independence remain at the center of Ethereum’s future.

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Ethereum is Not Trying To Be The Fastest Chain

Buterin said Ethereum is not built to compete with high-frequency trading platforms. He also said it is not trying to become the fastest blockchain.

Rather, he described Ethereum as a network built around safety and decentralization.

“It’s meant to be the secure chain, the decentralized chain, the chain you can rely on,” he said.

That statement set the tone for his wider message. It showed that Ethereum’s main goal is trust, not raw speed.

Many blockchain projects promote fast transactions as a key feature. However, Buterin’s remarks showed a different focus for Ethereum.

He said the network should support digital assets with strong and steady infrastructure.

That view also reflects Ethereum’s role in the crypto market. It supports smart contracts, tokens, and many other on-chain services.

Because of that, reliability remains a central part of its long-term plan.

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