Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has made headlines with his generous donation of approximately 5,000 in ETH to two privacy messaging applications, Session and SimpleX. These platforms are striving to carve out a niche in a competitive landscape dominated by established players like Signal and Telegram. Buterin’s commitment to privacy solutions has intensified amid growing concerns over global surveillance and the erosion of personal privacy.
Encrypted messaging, like @signalapp, is critical for preserving our digital privacy. Two important next steps for the space are (i) permissionless account creation and (ii) metadata privacy. @session_app and @SimpleXChat are two messaging apps pushing these directions forward.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) November 26, 2025
In a recent tweet, Buterin emphasized the importance of encrypted messaging, stating, “Without privacy, how can you express your true self? If you can’t connect with others as your true self, you lose your ability to express yourself and live freely.” Chris McCabe, co-founder of Session, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the ongoing struggle for privacy in a digital age where censorship and control are prevalent.
Session positions itself as a decentralized end-to-end encrypted messenger, aiming to minimize metadata leakage—information that can compromise user privacy. The platform has also seen a remarkable surge in its token, SESH, which has risen by 371% in a single day, reaching a market capitalization of million, according to CoinGecko. Meanwhile, SimpleX focuses on empowering users to maintain ownership of their identities and communities, with plans to introduce “vouchers” for community support in the coming year.
However, Buterin has cautioned that neither application is flawless, acknowledging that both have significant room for improvement in user experience and security. He noted the complexities involved in achieving strong metadata privacy through decentralization, which poses challenges such as multi-device support and resistance to Sybil and DoS attacks.
Crypto and privacy
As discussions around privacy intensify, interest in privacy-focused applications and crypto projects has surged. Zac Williamson, co-founder of the privacy-centric Ethereum layer-2 network Aztec Network, pointed out the vulnerability of digital spaces to unprecedented levels of surveillance. He stated, “Privacy is important so that individuals can act as free agents in their online interactions, as opposed to being digital commodities whose data is harvested, sold to the highest bidder, and weaponized against the user’s interests.”
Recent developments, such as the UK government’s requirement for identification to access adult content online and the European Union’s approval for messaging apps to scan content for child protection, have further fueled concerns about privacy. Earlier this month, Buterin referred to privacy as “hygiene” in light of a security breach affecting major U.S. banks. Additionally, the Ethereum Foundation has established a new privacy team, comprising 28 members, to enhance its privacy-related initiatives.
Throughout this evolving landscape, privacy-focused cryptocurrencies have experienced significant growth. For instance, Zcash has skyrocketed by an impressive 793% to 1 over the past year, despite a recent decline. This surge reflects a broader trend towards prioritizing privacy in the digital realm, as individuals seek solutions that safeguard their personal information amidst increasing scrutiny.
