Vitalik Buterin rebukes anti EU rhetoric on X and addresses Elon Musk directly

He wrote that the “attacks on Europe” he had seen over the past few days, including from people he previously considered “interesting and sophisticated,” were becoming “unhinged.” Buterin added that while the EU has problems, an “apocalyptic attitude” did not match his experience.

Buterin’s remarks referenced content circulating on X in recent days. Among widely shared posts, Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin called for the abolition of the EU; that post had drawn more than 1.3 million views as of Sunday, 7 December 2025. Buterin did not single out specific accounts by name in his thread beyond addressing the tone of the debate and the role of the platform.

Addressing X owner Elon Musk, Buterin argued that positioning X as a global symbol of free expression while enabling orchestrated pile‑ons can undermine that goal. In one post he wrote that “making X a global totem pole for Free Speech, and then turning it into a death star laser for coordinated hate sessions, is actually harmful for the cause of free speech.”

The exchange followed enforcement action by the European Commission against X for content‑moderation failures. On 10 December 2025, the Commission announced a €120 million fine under the bloc’s digital‑content rules. Musk criticized the ruling on X and renewed his attacks on EU institutions, reiterating prior statements in which he has argued that the European Union should be disbanded. Musk’s public comments continued amid broader political contention on the platform.

Buterin rarely comments on day‑to‑day politics and usually focuses public posts on technical or ecosystem topics. On 10 December he used the thread to address conversation dynamics on X and wording around EU debates. Replies and quote posts continued through the day.

As GNcrypto reported on 24 November 2025, Vitalik Buterin and several crypto executives warned that X’s new “About This Account” country label could expose users to privacy risks. X head of product Nikita Bier presented the feature as a transparency tool, while critics highlighted the lack of a clear opt‑out and the possibility of targeted harassment. Supporters argued the labels may add context and deter foreign actors from posing as domestic voices; Bier noted an option to show a broader region in higher‑risk jurisdictions.