Vitalik Buterin Warns EU's Chat Control Could Break Digital Privacy: “Fight It”

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has issued a stark warning against the European Union's proposed "Chat Control" legislation, urging the cryptocurrency community to "fight it" as the law threatens fundamental digital privacy rights. The controversial proposal could transform routine online communications into mass surveillance tools, potentially impacting blockchain developers, cryptocurrency traders, and DeFi protocols across Europe.

Buterin's opposition highlights growing concerns within the crypto ecosystem about government overreach in digital spaces. The Chat Control law could significantly affect encrypted communications used by blockchain developers, Bitcoin traders, and decentralized finance platforms that rely on secure messaging for operations and governance.

The Ethereum founder's stance reflects broader cryptocurrency industry fears about regulatory encroachment on privacy-focused technologies. As European lawmakers debate the legislation, crypto markets are closely monitoring potential implications for digital asset innovation and blockchain development. The proposed law represents a critical battleground between government security interests and the cryptocurrency community's commitment to decentralized, privacy-preserving technologies that underpin Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader DeFi ecosystem.