Vitalik Buterin Announces New Project Developed on Altcoin: Privacy and AI Merge
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has developed a new prototype that combines anonymous messaging with on-chain moderation on the Aztec network.
One of the most influential figures in the cryptocurrency world, Vitalik Buterin, has released an experimental anonymous message board demo running on the privacy-focused layer-2 solution, Aztec. Shared via Buterin’s personal GitHub account, this work allows users to share messages without revealing their identities while also enabling community rules to be moderated with the support of artificial intelligence.
In this system, users can post anonymously by depositing Ethereum (ETH) from the Ethereum mainnet to the Aztec network. There is no on-chain link between the shared messages and the deposited amount, ensuring total privacy. However, this freedom is not unmoderated; a censorship role within the system can automatically flag inappropriate content by reading on-chain policies through a local Large Language Model (LLM).
Aztec Stage 2 and Secure Anonymity
One of the most striking aspects of the project is the emphasis that the Aztec network has reached Stage 2 decentralization, the highest level on the layer-2 maturity scale. This signifies a more secure and independent structure for the Ethereum ecosystem. Furthermore, the posting speed in the system is limited based on the amount of Ethereum (ETH) deposited. For instance, a user depositing 0.001 Ethereum (ETH) can send one message per hour, while those depositing 0.01 Ethereum (ETH) can send ten messages.
Although Buterin describes this work as an unfinished “toy,” the project’s security features have been mathematically verified across 70 different theorems using the Lean 4 language. As seen in the visual, such innovations aimed at protecting individual privacy within the complexity of financial systems shed light on the future social use cases of blockchain technology. The project aims to prove how anonymity and community moderation can be technically reconciled.