Co-founding Ethereum Vitalik Buterin recently shared a detailed essay titled Balance of Power, where he examined why modern society feels increasingly uneasy despite rapid technological and economic progress. His core message was simple but serious. Progress is necessary, but when power gathers too tightly in a few hands, crises follow.
He pointed out that the world today is facing simultaneous growth of three dominant forces: governments, large corporations, and mass social movements. Each plays an important role, yet each can become dangerous without limits.
Buterin said older eras naturally checked power through distance and slow communication, limits that no longer exist. Technology has removed friction, letting companies reach billions, governments monitor entire populations, and online movements form instantly. He argued this new reality needs deliberate balance, not blind reliance on old systems.
Fear of Governments, Corporations, and Crowds
Buterin explained that people are afraid of big government because government can use the power of violence to implement its policies. There must be public order and there must be courts. However, if the power wielded by this authority is unchecked, there can be the repression of speech, the violation of rights, or the outbreak of war.
Buterin observed that the theory of politics has always sought to use government as an impartial system and not an active agent with an agenda to pursue. But big business tends away from the common good as it grows, shifting from creativity to control.
This makes it easier for big business to shape legislation and markets, thereby reducing competition and slowing innovation. In addition, he spoke of “The Big Mob” when arguing that a weakened civil society results when many people speak with one voice, since these groups may hurt others despite doing good things.
Why Balance of Power Is Breaking Down
However, Buterin reported that economies of scale are increasing at a faster rate than ever before. Technology automation and proprietary allow a small team to control a massive system. Nevertheless, humans do not control technology as they used to. Users are able to employ the technology but cannot alter or comprehend it.
This breeds a dangerous cycle where the powerfull become even more powerfull because of the power they already possess. Knowledge was shared in the past through trade and imitation. Today’s closed systems and software prevent the flow of knowledge. For this to change, there was the need for greater openness, as proposed by Buterin. He cited examples of banning non-compete clauses in the US and open-source legislation in the EU as examples of this.
Ethereum as a Case Study in Decentralization
However, Buterin used Ethereum to prove that power can be exercised without fully controlling it. He cited Lido as one example of a decentralized staking protocol that manages staked ETH to the tune of 24%.
Although this is substantial, it is structured in a way that doesn’t allow control to be exercised in a centralized manner. Rather, it is diffuse in nature. He challenged developers to think beyond the goal of making money to think about models for decentralization.
Also Read: Ethereum Lags Behind Bitcoin as Past Cycle Pattern Repeats in 2025
