Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum Foundation) - Vitalik's Annual EthCC talk

The speaker discusses the need to shift the focus of decentralization in crypto from building technology to guaranteeing concrete properties for users, drawing parallels with the early internet and Web 2.0. The talk highlights the importance of considering the social and moral implications of cryptographic work, moving beyond technological optimism, and ensuring that the growth of the crypto space leads to tangible benefits for users, such as freedom and security. Examples of potential pitfalls in Layer 2 solutions, DAP interfaces, governance, ZK identity, and privacy protocols are provided. The speaker proposes tests like the "walk-away test," the "insider attack test," and analyzing the properties of the game to evaluate decentralization efforts, advocating for a focus on creating a more open, fair, and permissionless ecosystem. The speaker also touches on the importance of avoiding perverse incentives and learning from the successes and failures of platforms like Android to build a lasting and valuable ecosystem.