Vitalik Buterin calls obfuscation cryptography’s ‘final boss,’ but says current approaches remain wildly impractical

Vitalik Buterin said obfuscation is cryptography’s “final boss,” citing impractical iO schemes with “literally galactic” runtimes.

The Block

Contributor

Jun 29, 2026

1 min read

Photo illustration / STKR News

Vitalik Buterin said obfuscation is cryptography’s “final boss,” citing impractical iO schemes with “literally galactic” runtimes.

The Brief

A six-minute morning dispatch on the markets and the technology shaping them.

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Write for STKR

Earn $STKR for published stories on markets, protocols, and culture.

Comments

24 reader responses