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Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has made a significant donation to two privacy-focused messaging services. In total, he is gifting 256 Ethereum to Session and SimpleX Chat, two platforms that operate without phone numbers or central accounts. The contribution follows his call to better protect digital communication against metadata collection and surveillance.
Donation of Over €600,000 to Two Private Apps #
Buterin donated 128 Ether to Session and another 128 Ether to SimpleX Chat. In total, this amounts to 256 Ether, valued at approximately $655,000. The contribution is intended to support projects that prioritize privacy and offer alternatives to traditional chat services that rely on identifiable user data.
Session is a messaging service that runs without central servers and does not use phone numbers or identifiable accounts. SimpleX Chat operates similarly and aims to minimize metadata, so conversations cannot be traced back to individuals or devices.
‘Encrypted Communication is Essential for Our Privacy’ #
Buterin explained his motivation in a post on X. ‘Encrypted messages are crucial for maintaining our digital privacy,’ he said. According to him, the next steps for private communication should focus on account registration without consent and metadata protection.
He emphasized that true metadata privacy is only possible with decentralized infrastructure. This is technically challenging, as systems without phone numbers can be vulnerable to attacks or abuse through mass registrations. Building robust networks without central verification remains, in his view, an important but difficult part of secure communication technology.
A Time of Increasing Attention to Digital Privacy #
The donations come at a time when digital surveillance and potential chat controls are increasingly debated. Meanwhile, the CEO of Telegram was released two weeks ago after an arrest in France, which has further fueled the discussion. Due to growing awareness of digital privacy, there is increasing demand for services that collect less information and better shield users.
Buterin’s support fits into a broader pattern of his involvement in privacy technology. Within the Ethereum ecosystem, he has long advocated for solutions that limit the amount of metadata and give users more control over their digital identity.
With his contribution, he continues this line: encouraging decentralized alternatives that view privacy not as an extra feature, but as a fundamental principle.