The Network State Podcast #14 - Vitalik on Ethereum
Jul 16, 2025
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum and Zuzalu, dives into the cutting-edge world of blockchain technology. He discusses Ethereum's advancements in scalability, the maturation of DeFi, and the rise of stablecoins. The conversation also explores AI's safety and autonomy amidst global tensions, and how communities can drive technological innovation. Vitalik highlights the revolutionary intersection of cryptocurrency and biotech, as well as the potential of startup societies to transform governance and economic structures.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ethereum's Scalability Breakthrough
- Ethereum has finally laid the technical groundwork for scalable applications.
- Layer 2s and upcoming upgrades project transaction speeds in the thousands per second soon.
DeFi Maturity and Safety Improves
- DeFi safety has improved so much that hacking losses are under 0.5% of total value locked.
- Mature protocols have become reliable enough to be recommended cautiously to average users.
Defi Beats TradFi in Security
- DeFi has the potential to outcompete traditional finance in security.
- The risk of losing money in DeFi is already lower than that in some traditional banks.
