Buterin Warns of X Geo-Inference Tool Privacy Risks
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sharply criticized X’s new geo-inference tool. He warned that the X Geo-Inference Tool is easily spoofable by adversaries using rented passports, phone numbers or IP infrastructure, and that political trolls will exploit it to appear as US or UK users. He cautioned that non-consensual country labeling endangers vulnerable individuals in authoritarian or conflict regions, and urged X to switch the feature to opt-in, fully disclose inference methods and develop a robust provenance system based on community signals. Buterin also recommended stronger metadata controls to preserve user privacy. As a long-time privacy advocate, he highlighted Ethereum’s stealth addresses, mixers, zero-knowledge proofs and the new GKR protocol as on-chain anonymity solutions. At press time, ETH traded near $2,800, a key level for crypto traders to watch as privacy debates unfold around the platform.
Neutral
The criticism of X’s geo-inference tool by Vitalik Buterin focuses on privacy and security risks rather than directly affecting Ethereum’s fundamentals or ETH price. In the short term, traders may remain cautious but market reaction is likely muted, as this debate centers on social media features rather than protocol upgrades or regulatory changes. Long-term, improved privacy solutions could enhance Ethereum’s appeal, but this news alone should not significantly move ETH’s price.