Vitalik Buterin emphasizes the necessity of mathematically verified software to protect Ethereum and the wider cryptocurrency space from increasingly sophisticated, AI-assisted cyberattacks and software vulnerabilities. He advocates for AI-powered “formal verification,” a method of mathematically proving code correctness, as a way to secure blockchains, smart contracts, and cryptographic systems, thus reducing user exposure to catastrophic losses. Advancements in AI make formal verification more practical and capable of verifying not only theoretical protocol security but actual executable code. Buterin points to recent incidents—such as highly advanced AI cybersecurity models being able to autonomously find and exploit software flaws—as evidence that traditional security measures are increasingly insufficient, with billions in cryptocurrency already lost to such attacks, including high-profile hacks by state-backed groups. He believes formal verification can also boost trust in AI-generated code by ensuring its accuracy and efficiency, but warns it is not a cure-all, especially for complex technological challenges. Buterin envisions future decentralized systems relying on rigorously verified core infrastructure, maintaining defender advantage, and resisting the notion that open-source or decentralized networks must inevitably become insecure.