Vitalik Calls on Ethereum Community to Shift Mindset, Stay True to Core Principles, and Design Applications "From Scratch"

March 6: Ethereum founder Vitalik said it’s good for the Ethereum community to adopt a bolder, more open mindset—especially around the application layer and how we see our place in the world. We shouldn’t compromise on core attributes: censorship resistance, openness, privacy, and security (CROPS). Specifically for the application layer and Ethereum’s interface with the outside world, we need to fully rethink concepts and step outside our comfort zones. Last year, we started prioritizing privacy on par with other security types. This means a fundamental shift in the Ethereum application stack—since the entire stack hasn’t been built around privacy so far. Great, let’s build a totally different Ethereum application stack. An example this year: rethinking the role of L2s from scratch, and which L2 types can truly deliver the biggest synergies and benefits with Ethereum. This includes cultural factors too—for me and others, this is a key part of the “milady” concept. Write down your “polished” pre-conceived notions, crumple them up, and burn them. This mental reset will spark an intellectual refresh, boosting creativity and expanding horizons. For a long time, Ethereum’s approach has been: “We have an existing ecosystem—what’s next to make it better?” Now, our approach should be: “We have a great L1 layer (that’ll only get better); we have more tools than ever—built inside and outside the ecosystem; based on what we know now, what’s most valuable?” If you were writing the application section of the 2014 Ethereum whitepaper from first principles—covering DeFi, decentralized social, identity, and more—what would you include? At minimum, set aside all path dependence first: assume the Ethereum chain isn’t being used at all, and you’re the first to propose or build the first batch of apps. What would you end up writing? Even if you’re building existing apps now, do this. This is the secret to Ethereum’s renaissance.