Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sketched a 10-year vision for the blockchain that prioritises "ultra-light" nodes, default privacy protections and seamless self-custody. He said developers should aim for a fully verified technology stack, extending trustless security from decentralised applications down to the hardware level. Buterin also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence, arguing that open-weight AI models combined with strong human-editing tools can give users more control. He cautioned against ceding important decisions to fully autonomous systems, stressing that human oversight is essential to avoid unintended consequences. Turning to financial architecture, Buterin warned that pushing Layer-1 blockchains toward ultra-low-latency, high-frequency trading has "no natural stopping point" and could distort ecosystem incentives. He advocated keeping Ethereum’s base layer focused on security and decentralisation rather than speed-obsessed market activity.