When Your Own Computer Isn't Really Yours

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum (ETH), isn't happy about the direction personal computing is headed. Over the weekend, he joined a growing chorus of voices concerned that tech giants like Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) are tightening their grip on devices that people thought they owned.

The spark? A discussion about whether corporations are systematically dismantling the concept of personal computer ownership. And Buterin had a fresh example from his own experience.

The Mandatory Connection That Started It All

The conversation began when Andrew Perpetua posted on X that big tech companies are trying to eliminate people's ability to truly own their PCs. "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," Perpetua wrote. "The corporations want to end ownership."

Perpetua even suggested that people might move closer to "hardcore socialism and communism" as a result of losing control over their devices.

Buterin chimed in with his own frustrating experience: he recently tried to set up a new device and discovered he needed an internet connection that forced him to communicate with Microsoft servers during the initial setup. He called the experience "dystopian," especially ironic since he ultimately planned to wipe the machine and install Linux, the open-source operating system that doesn't require corporate permission to use.

Microsoft's New Policy Makes It Official

This isn't just paranoia or a one-off bug. Microsoft's October 2025 policy officially makes an internet connection and a Microsoft account mandatory for most Windows 11 installations. What used to be a choice has become a requirement.

For someone like Buterin, who advocates for decentralization and user control in every aspect of technology, being forced to check in with Microsoft servers just to use hardware he purchased represents everything wrong with modern tech.

Not Everyone Sees the Problem

Of course, not everyone shares Buterin's concerns. One X user argued that Microsoft's design actually caters to the 99.99% of users who aren't technical experts. Unlike "nerds" like Buterin who can compile their own software, average users benefit from the streamlined, account-integrated experience Microsoft provides.

It's a fair point. The tension between user-friendliness and user control has always existed in computing. Microsoft's approach makes things easier for most people, even if it removes options for power users who want complete autonomy over their machines.

Microsoft didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Buterin's Broader Battle Against Centralization

This criticism fits neatly into Buterin's ongoing campaign against centralization in all its forms. The whole point of Ethereum and blockchain technology is to distribute power away from central authorities, so watching Microsoft consolidate control over personal computing naturally rubs him the wrong way.

Last year, he took aim at OpenAI's ambitious plans for superintelligent AI, calling them "very risky." His alternative? An ecosystem of open models running on consumer hardware rather than a handful of powerful servers controlled by a few massive corporations.

Whether it's operating systems, artificial intelligence, or cryptocurrency networks, Buterin consistently advocates for systems where users maintain control rather than surrendering it to corporate gatekeepers.

Where Microsoft Stands

While the philosophical debate rages on social media, Microsoft continues to perform well in the market. Shares closed 0.06% higher at $487.71 on Friday. Year-to-date, the stock has gained 15.71%, suggesting investors aren't particularly worried about backlash from tech-savvy critics.

The question of who really controls your personal computer might not be settled anytime soon. But with voices like Buterin's amplifying concerns about digital ownership, the conversation isn't going away either.