What Vitalik Buterin thinks about open source
Co-founder of Ethereum. Publishes long essays on mechanism design, governance and what cryptography is for, and returns to his earlier positions to say which parts he no longer holds.
Vitalik Buterin did not write this page.
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1 dated position, 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Vitalik Buterin has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Our reading · no longer heldPermissive licences are the better way to release free software and free content, because they maximise adoption.
Recalls holdingHistorically, I was a fan of the permissive approach (eg. my blog is under the WTFPL). More recently, I am warming up to the copyleft approach.
SaidHistorically, I was a fan of the permissive approach (eg. my blog is under the WTFPL). More recently, I am warming up to the copyleft approach.
↗Why I used to prefer permissive licenses and now favor copyleftvitalik.eth.limo