Vitalik Buterin Compares Ethereum to BitTorrent and Linux

Ethereum combines BitTorrent's scale with Linux's openness, says Vitalik Buterin.

Ethereum combines the scale of BitTorrent with the openness and reliability of Linux, according to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the blockchain platform.

One metaphor for Ethereum is BitTorrent, and how that p2p network combines decentralization and mass scale. Ethereum’s goal is to do the same thing but with consensus.

Another metaphor for Ethereum is Linux.

* Linux is free and open source software, and does not compromise on…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 8, 2026

He stated that the network aims for global reach without compromising decentralization, similar to BitTorrent. The key difference is the built-in consensus mechanism, essential for financial and social interactions.

The comparison with Linux is based on ideology: like the operating system, Ethereum is founded on principles of free and open code.

The architecture of both systems shows a clear division of roles. The first layer of the blockchain acts as a “pure core,” ensuring sovereignty, while applications and L2 solutions provide convenience for the mass user.

“Ethereum L1 should serve as a financial home for individuals and organizations seeking a higher level of autonomy, providing them access to the full power of the network without reliance on intermediaries. The example of Linux shows that this is fully compatible with providing value to a vast number of people and even being loved and trusted by enterprises worldwide,” Buterin concluded.

In his view, this dual nature is not a weakness but a strength. The principle of trustlessness, which Ethereum strives for, is interpreted in the business environment as minimizing counterparty risk. This condition is key for attracting institutional players.

The Latency Dilemma

Buterin believes that the Ethereum network should focus not on reducing transaction confirmation times but on scaling bandwidth.

Increasing bandwidth is safer than reducing latency

With PeerDAS and ZKPs, we know how to scale, and potentially we can scale thousands of times compared to the status quo. The numbers become far more favorable than before (eg. see analysis here, pre and post-sharding…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 8, 2026

He noted that the second task is technologically predetermined and safe thanks to PeerDAS and ZK-proofs. With their help, blockchain bandwidth can be increased thousands of times without threatening decentralization. There are no insurmountable laws of physics here—only engineering challenges.

The second path—reducing latency—faces insurmountable barriers. The key one is the speed of light, which limits the speed of signal transmission between continents. Additionally, there are specific requirements for Ethereum’s architecture:

1. Geographical diversity of nodes. The network must be accessible to validators worldwide, including regions with weak connectivity, not just professional data centers.
2. Censorship resistance and anonymity. Nodes must maintain anonymity and protection from external pressure, which excludes infrastructure centralization.
3. Economics. Decentralization cannot rely solely on ideology—it must be profitable. If server remoteness reduces profitability even by 10%, staking will inevitably concentrate in major hubs like New York, posing a threat to the network.

Buterin allowed for moderate improvement in latency by three to six times (to 2-4 seconds per block) through optimization of P2P connections and validator committee architecture. However, achieving sub-second speed on a global level is deemed impossible for a decentralized base layer.

In his opinion, this niche will be filled by L2 solutions and specialized blockchains. High speeds are particularly important for interaction with artificial intelligence: for AI processing data faster than humans, even the speed of light is a significant limitation.

Such systems will require “urban” networks with nanosecond latency, achievable only within hyper-local L2s.

“Ultimately, Ethereum belongs to planet Earth, and its second-layer solutions will serve both the hyper-local needs of its cities and planetary-scale needs,” the programmer concluded.

Earlier in January, Buterin stated that the network of the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is successfully overcoming the blockchain trilemma thanks to the development of zkEVM and the launch of PeerDAS.