Vitalik Buterin has called 2026 the year to reclaim self-sovereignty in computing, highlighting the risks of sending personal data to centralised third-party services. Speaking on X, he argued that such practices are unnecessary and that users should have more control over their own information. While his comments focus on the broader issue of digital autonomy rather than any specific platform, they have sparked renewed interest in solutions that offer privacy, control, and decentralisation.
In a separate commentary, Pierre Samaties, Chief Business Officer at DFINITY, drew attention to the Internet Computer as a practical example of a sovereign cloud network with multichain integration. “Adoption follows utility, not ideology, and that’s what has changed,” he said, emphasising that the network now supports real-world applications rather than just theoretical use cases.
Profila, a platform specialising in privacy-first data management and zero-party data, welcomed the attention but stressed that technology alone is not enough. “Technology without adoption is not a solution,” the company said. “How can we drive better adoption of ICP?” This echoes a wider challenge in the tech industry: innovation must be paired with accessibility and relevance to real users to have an impact.
Samaties pointed to three developments signalling stronger adoption of the Internet Computer. First, there has been a surge in builders. With the launch of Caffeine AI, approximately ten times more developers began building and deploying projects on ICP in just a few weeks than the entire existing global web3 developer base. This reflects both growing interest in decentralised platforms and the accessibility of new development tools that lower barriers for creators.
Second, demand for ICP is expanding beyond the cryptocurrency sector. National subnets, such as the Swiss Subnet, are being launched by governments and institutions seeking sovereign cloud guarantees rather than token incentives. These projects demonstrate that decentralised cloud networks are becoming relevant to mainstream organisations and public institutions, not only blockchain enthusiasts.
Finally, the network is handling real production usage at scale. The Internet Computer now processes tens of millions of transactions per day for operational applications, moving beyond test benchmarks. This indicates that ICP is supporting practical workloads and delivering measurable outcomes for users, businesses, and institutions alike.
Samaties emphasised that adoption comes from solving problems others cannot. The Internet Computer aims to offer users and organisations privacy, control, and scalable computing capabilities within a decentralised environment. By providing a platform where developers can create applications that are both secure and interoperable, ICP hopes to address the growing demand for technology that empowers individuals while meeting institutional standards.
As discussions around self-sovereign computing gain momentum, the Internet Computer represents one approach to addressing the challenges highlighted by Buterin. While the broader adoption of decentralised networks will depend on usability, awareness, and tangible benefits, ICP’s recent growth suggests that solutions offering utility and trust can attract both builders and institutional users.
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