Vitalik Buterin Advocates Pluralistic IDs for Privacy
Vitalik Buterin Advocates for Pluralistic Digital Identity Systems to Preserve Privacy
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a new model for digital identification known as “pluralistic identity.” This approach, he argues, is essential to safeguarding user privacy and enabling fair participation in online ecosystems.
In a blog post released on Sunday, Buterin explored the growing interest in digital ID systems based on zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs — cryptographic methods that allow users to verify their identity without disclosing personal data. Projects like World ID, Taiwan’s national digital ID, and European Union initiatives have already begun integrating this privacy-preserving technology.
While acknowledging the benefits, Buterin warned that ZK-proof systems still carry risks if they enforce a rigid one-ID-per-person structure. Such rigidity, he believes, threatens the concept of pseudonymity — a cornerstone of privacy and freedom online.
The Threat of Single Digital Identity Models
Buterin cautioned that limiting users to a single digital identity could eliminate the ability to maintain multiple, pseudonymous accounts. “In practice, pseudonymity often depends on using more than one account,” he wrote. He warned that consolidating all activity under a single, publicly traceable ID could lead to invasive surveillance by governments or employers.
He also criticized using “proof of wealth” as a primary method for Sybil resistance — the effort to prevent fake identities. This method, he said, disproportionately empowers the wealthy and excludes those without financial resources.
A Pluralistic Approach to Identity
As a solution, Buterin proposed a pluralistic system that avoids reliance on a single authority. Such systems can be built explicitly, using tools like social-graph verifications (e.g., Circles), or implicitly, by incorporating various sources — including government IDs, social media credentials, and other independent providers.
The advantage of this distributed structure, he noted, is that it builds resilience into the identity network. If one provider becomes inaccessible or biased, others can fill the gap — a crucial feature for stateless individuals or people lacking access to formal IDs.
Ultimately, Buterin sees a hybrid model as the ideal path forward, combining one-per-person protocols with diverse verification methods to create an inclusive, privacy-first digital identity landscape.
“If any provider approaches monopoly status,” he warned, “it risks shifting the system into a rigid one-per-person paradigm, which undermines the very freedoms we aim to protect.”
