Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), voiced his concerns Sunday about corporations like Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) gaining more control over personal computers.



<h2>‘Corporations Want To End Ownership’</h2>



Buterin shared his experience in response to an X post about big technology companies trying to end people’s ability to own personal computers.



“I think for a lot of people, corporations ending the ability to own your own PC is going to be the last straw before they radicalize,” Andrew Perpetua argued. “The corporations want to end ownership.”



Perpetua said that people will move closer to “hardcore socialism and communism” as a result.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img width="755" height="227" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/28235544/image-490.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/28235544/image-490.png"/></figure>



<h2>Buterin Expresses Frustration</h2>



Vitalik Buterin recalled how he needed an internet connection, which required communicating with Microsoft servers, during initial device setup. He described the experience as “dystopian,” particularly since he ultimately wanted to use Linux, the open-source operating system.



Notably, Microsoft’s October 2025 policy makes an internet connection and a Microsoft account mandatory for most Windows 11 setups.



See Also: Elon Musk’s Grok Might Skew Toward The xAI CEO’s Biases, But Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin Says It’s Still Better Than ‘Third-Party Slop’



<h2>Design Meant For Average Folks, Not ‘Nerds’</h2>



An X user iRiSh argued that Microsoft’s design caters to 99.99% of non-technical users, who, unlike “nerds” like Buterin, may have difficulty compiling software.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div>
<blockquote>Bro you understand that 99.99% of people are braindead and retarded ? Microsoft isn't building for us … It's building for them. How many phone calls would us nerds get if everyone had to compile their own shit to do anything ?— iRiSh (@Science_Qs) December 28, 2025</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Microsoft didn’t immediately return Benzinga’s request for comment on the matter.



<h2>Buterin Pushes For Decentralization</h2>



Buterin’s comments echo his previous concerns about the risks of unchecked technological advancements and growing centralization.



Last year, he criticized OpenAI’s ambitious plans for superintelligent AI, describing them as “very risky”. He batted for an ecosystem of open models running on consumer hardware rather than a few central servers controlled by a small cohort of conglomerates. 



Price Action: Microsoft shares closed 0.06% higher at $487.71 on Friday, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Year-to-date, the stock has gained 15.71%.



Benzinga’s proprietary Edge Rankings show Quality as the strongest category for MSFT at 77.04/100. To see how the stock ranks for other indicators, click here.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img width="993" height="192" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/28231436/image-489.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/28231436/image-489.png"/></figure>



Image via Shutterstock/ PeopleImages



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li>Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin Finds Prediction Platforms Like Polymarket, Kalshi ‘Healthier’ Than Traditional Markets: Here’s Why</li>
</ul>

MSFT

MSFL

MSFO

MSFD

MSFU

MSFX

MSFY

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, criticized Microsoft's requirement for an internet connection to install Windows, calling it 'dystopian.' He expressed concerns over corporations gaining control over personal computers and ending ownership. Buterin advocates for decentralization and open-source systems. Microsoft's policy will mandate internet and Microsoft account for Windows 11 setups from October 2025. Microsoft shares rose 0.06% to $487.71, with a 15.71% year-to-date gain.

- Vitalik Buterin expressed concerns about corporations, especially Microsoft, gaining control over personal computers, labeling the experience as dystopian.  
- He noted that Microsoft's October 2025 policy, requiring an internet connection and Microsoft account for Windows 11 setup, contributes to this control.  
- Buterin advocates for decentralization, fearing that unchecked technology and centralization could lead to a societal shift towards extreme political ideologies.

benzinga_article

Microsoft

GraniteShares 2x Long MSFT Daily ETF

YieldMax MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF

Direxion Daily MSFT Bear 1x Shares

Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares

T-Rex 2X Long Microsoft Daily Target ETF

Kurv Yield Premium Strategy Microsoft MSFT ETF

Microsoft Requiring Internet To Install Windows Is Dystopian, Says Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin Amid Worries About Loss Of Control Over PCs