Vitalik Buterin has transitioned away from centralized Big Tech platforms, adopting open-source, encrypted, and decentralized tools such as Fileverse, Signal, OpenStreetMap, and Proton Mail. He envisions 2026 as a pivotal year for computing self-sovereignty, encouraging local AI models and privacy-by-design software to minimize personal data exposure. This shift reflects rising geopolitical and strategic considerations around AI infrastructure and energy resources, increasing interest in decentralized computing.