Vitalik Buterin criticized crypto projects that appear decentralized on paper but rely on centralized web or app interfaces, calling them “straw houses” that fail under real-world scrutiny.

Date

July 2, 2025

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This shift is not just a concern for user empowerment, Buterin added—it is also a security risk. Many startups build decentralized applications with centralized frontends, such as websites and mobile apps. Buterin referred to these dApps as “straw houses,” arguing that attackers can easily compromise centralized front ends.

These “straw-house” systems may appear decentralized in brochures, but crumble under real-world scrutiny.

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Week 27 of 2025