Key Highlights
- Vitalik urges AI-powered wallets with transaction previews to make crypto safer and easier for users.
- Transaction simulation bridges UX and security, letting users see blockchain outcomes before confirming actions.
- Ethereum could evolve beyond finance, building “sanctuary technologies” to protect privacy, freedom, and resilience.
Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin has called for a shift in wallet design, emphasizing AI integration and user security. Buterin stated, “Pretty obvious that the next iteration of wallets will heavily involve AI.”
He added, “I would not trust an LLM with multi-million transactions or funds, I expect the optimal workflow in high-value situations is ‘AI proposes a plan, local light client simulates it, you see the action and the simulated outcome and manually confirm it.’”
Many wallets today make transactions feel like a single “click and go” action, which can hide what’s really happening behind the scenes. Permissions and outcomes are often confusing or hard to see.
By showing users a clear preview of what will happen on the blockchain before they approve anything, they can make smarter decisions and avoid mistakes. This method makes wallets easier to use and also keeps users safer from hacks and scams.
Simulation enhances safety and user control
Buterin’s transaction simulation concept builds on his February 2026 discussion about “intent-based security.” He argued that both UX and security aim to minimize divergence between intended and executed actions. Hence, simulation gives users a clear view of their transactions’ impact, making complex DeFi operations more transparent.
“The user specifies first what action they want to take, and then clicks ‘OK’ or ‘Cancel’ after seeing a simulation of the on-chain consequences of that action,” he explained. Additionally, this method could reduce reliance on traditional dApp interfaces, eliminating many attack vectors.
Moreover, Buterin has also encouraged Ethereum developers to rethink how applications are built on the platform. He pushed further yesterday on X for bold experimentation, focusing on privacy, AI, and redesigning decentralized finance. “We should not compromise on core properties: censorship resistance, open source, privacy, security,” he wrote.
At the same time, he urged radical exploration, suggesting that AI could eventually replace traditional wallets and let users organize themselves around applications more freely.
Expanding beyond finance with sanctuary technologies
Beyond just wallets, Buterin envisions Ethereum going beyond wallets into what he calls “sanctuary technologies.” These tools aim to protect people from surveillance, global instability, and the growing reach of AI.
He pointed to technologies like Starlink, local open-source AI, Signal, and Community Notes as examples that give users more freedom and control. While financial independence remains important, Buterin stresses that Ethereum should also help people stay resilient in everyday social and technological challenges.
With his recent posts, it is clear that Vitalik Buterin actively envisions reshaping how wallets work and what Ethereum stands for. By using AI, transaction previews, and privacy-focused apps, he aims to make Ethereum safer, easier to use, and ready for the future.
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