Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has revealed a donation of roughly $760,000 in Ether to two crypto messaging apps that he says are advancing digital privacy.
“Encrypted messaging apps, like Signal, are important for preserving our digital privacy,” Buterin wrote in an X post on Wednesday. He added that the next steps for the space should include permissionless account creation and stronger metadata privacy.
Buterin highlighted decentralized messaging apps Session and SimpleX Chat as leaders in these areas. He donated 128 ETH to each and encouraged users to give the platforms a try.
Session is designed to eliminate traditional identifiers and metadata, such as phone numbers, and operates without central servers. SimpleX Chat similarly avoids phone numbers and identifiable user IDs, among other privacy-focused features.
With an estimated net worth of at least $737 million in crypto holdings, Buterin has a history of donating to projects aligned with Ethereum’s principles, as well as to a variety of charitable causes.
Crypto community calls for unity to safeguard digital privacy
Privacy in messaging apps has become a pressing topic amid initiatives like the European Union’s previously proposed Chat Control, which would have required platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to allow authorities to access messages before they were encrypted and sent.
Speaking to Cointelegraph, Alexander Linton, president of the Session Technology Foundation, welcomed Vitalik Buterin’s support, noting the ongoing challenges in protecting digital privacy.
“Regulatory and technical developments currently pose a threat to the future of private messaging,” Linton said. “But these challenges are solvable, and Vitalik clearly understands the critical role decentralization plays in this fight.”
“Everyone working on private messaging right now is living under some threat right now, due to regulation such as Chat Control, but this type of support helps us stay focused on the mission.”
Improving user experience and security remains crucial
Buterin emphasized that both apps must continue striving for an optimal user experience and robust security. He noted that strong metadata privacy depends on decentralization, which is challenging, especially when users expect features like multi-device support.
“Sybil / DoS resistance, both in the message routing network and on the user side, without forcing phone number dependence, adds further difficulty. These problems need more eyes on them. I wish all teams working on these important problems best of luck.”
Global awareness key for encrypted decentralized messaging
Sybil attacks occur when a malicious actor creates multiple pseudonymous identities or nodes to gain control or an unfair advantage within a peer-to-peer network.
Chris McCabe, co-founder of Session, told Cointelegraph that it’s “amazing to know, as clear as day, that Vitalik and many people around the world understand what real privacy is, what people need to live freely.”
He added that raising global awareness should be a crucial next step for encrypted, decentralized messaging.
“Most people are unaware of what happens with their data behind the scenes,” McCabe said. “Session shows that trustless privacy is possible—it’s here, and it works.”
“If there is one message that we can let the world know, it’s that you don’t need to be a product; you can be who you want to be and speak freely. Privacy is a right, you just need to know it.”
