In a surprising move that has reignited interest in a once-dormant concept, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has minted a new Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domain: dacc.eth. This act, confirmed by on-chain data, was accompanied by a social media teaser announcing an upcoming discussion on the concept of d/acc—short for defensive accelerationism—set to take place on August 22 in an audio space on X.
The immediate reaction? A surge in attention—and speculation. Within 15 minutes of the news breaking, a meme coin named $E/ACC skyrocketed over 700%, briefly reaching a $5 million market cap before correcting sharply. As of now, the token has pulled back more than 63%, settling around a $1.91 million valuation. While the coin’s price action reflects typical crypto volatility, the resurgence of interest in d/acc signals something deeper: a growing debate about the future of technology, power, and ethics in the digital age.
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What Is d/acc?
The term d/acc, or defensive accelerationism, was first introduced by Vitalik Buterin in a November 2024 essay that explored the philosophical and practical challenges of technological progress. At its core, d/acc proposes a framework for advancing technology—not blindly or at all costs, but with deliberate safeguards to preserve decentralization, democracy, and human autonomy.
Buterin’s vision stands in contrast to another emerging ideology: e/acc, or effective accelerationism, which has gained traction among Silicon Valley technocrats and AI enthusiasts.
e/acc: Accelerate at All Costs
Effective accelerationism (e/acc) champions rapid technological advancement as the primary path to human flourishing. Advocates believe that breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and computing will solve existential problems—from disease to climate change—and that delays caused by regulation or caution are dangerous.
e/acc supporters often criticize institutions like the FDA for slowing down innovation, arguing that faster deployment of life-saving technologies could save millions. In their view, the risks of AI or genetic engineering are outweighed by the potential benefits, and progress should be accelerated even if it means accepting short-term uncertainty.
d/acc: Progress with Protection
Defensive accelerationism (d/acc), on the other hand, calls for a more cautious and principled approach. It doesn’t reject technological progress—in fact, it embraces it—but insists that such progress must be defensive, decentralized, and democratically governed.
As Buterin explained, the “D” in d/acc stands for:
Defence, Decentralization, Democracy, and Differential progress.
This means prioritizing technologies that enhance security, distribute power widely, enable inclusive decision-making, and selectively accelerate beneficial innovations while slowing down potentially harmful ones.
For example, d/acc would support open-source AI models developed through community collaboration, rather than proprietary systems controlled by a few tech giants. It favors encryption, privacy-preserving protocols, and blockchain-based governance mechanisms that resist central control.
How Do d/acc and e/acc Differ on AI Risk?
One of the most critical battlegrounds between these two ideologies is their stance on artificial intelligence.
e/acc: Embrace Superintelligence
Proponents of e/acc tend to view AI as an inevitable force that should be accelerated to achieve superintelligence—a hypothetical AI system vastly smarter than humans. They argue that once we reach this threshold, AI can solve complex global problems autonomously.
From this perspective, concerns about misuse or loss of control are secondary to the urgency of getting there first. Regulation is often seen as a bottleneck; transparency and safety measures may slow things down unnecessarily.
d/acc: Guard Against Centralized Power
In contrast, d/acc treats AI development as a high-stakes game where who controls the technology matters just as much as how advanced it is. The core fear isn’t necessarily rogue AI—it’s AI controlled by centralized entities with opaque agendas.
d/acc advocates warn that if AI is developed behind closed doors by profit-driven corporations or authoritarian regimes, it could reinforce surveillance, manipulate public opinion, or automate inequality. Instead, they push for:
- Open research ecosystems
- Decentralized training infrastructure
- Public oversight and ethical review boards
- Incentives for alignment-focused development
This doesn’t mean opposing AI—it means building it in a way that aligns with human dignity and collective well-being.
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Why Did Vitalik Mint dacc.eth Now?
The timing of Buterin’s ENS mint is no coincidence. By claiming dacc.eth, he’s reclaiming a digital identity tied to a concept that had largely faded after the original d/acc project disbanded in late 2024. The associated meme coin crashed to near zero, and the website went offline—yet the idea never truly died.
Now, with AI advancements accelerating and regulatory debates heating up worldwide, Buterin appears to be reigniting the conversation. The ENS domain serves both as a symbolic gesture and a practical tool—a decentralized identifier that anchors his voice in the discourse without relying on centralized platforms.
It also highlights the growing importance of digital identity in Web3. ENS domains like vitalik.eth or dacc.eth aren’t just usernames—they’re persistent, user-owned identities that can represent individuals, projects, or ideologies across applications.
FAQ: Understanding d/acc and Its Impact
Q: Is d/acc a formal movement or just a philosophical idea?
A: Currently, d/acc is primarily a conceptual framework proposed by Vitalik Buterin. While it inspired a short-lived project and meme coin, its main influence lies in shaping discussions around ethical tech development rather than functioning as an organized group.
Q: Can d/acc and e/acc coexist?
A: Yes—though they differ in emphasis, both recognize the transformative potential of technology. A balanced future might integrate e/acc’s drive for innovation with d/acc’s emphasis on safety and equity.
Q: What real-world projects align with d/acc principles?
A: Examples include decentralized science (DeSci) initiatives, open-source AI collectives, privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, and DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) that enable community governance.
Q: Does minting dacc.eth mean Vitalik supports the old d/acc token?
A: No evidence suggests endorsement of the original meme coin. His action focuses on the idea of d/acc, not its speculative derivatives.
Q: How does ENS fit into the d/acc vision?
A: ENS exemplifies d/acc values—decentralized, user-controlled digital infrastructure that resists censorship and empowers individual agency online.
👉 Learn how ENS domains are redefining digital ownership and identity.
Final Thoughts
Vitalik Buterin’s minting of dacc.eth is more than a crypto curiosity—it’s a signal flare in the ongoing debate about where technology should take us, and how we get there safely. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, data monopolies, and geopolitical tech races, defensive accelerationism offers a compelling alternative: progress not at any cost, but with purpose.
As discussions unfold on August 22 and beyond, one thing is clear—the conversation around d/acc is just beginning. Whether it evolves into a lasting movement or remains a guiding philosophy, its core message resonates: technology must serve humanity, not the other way around.
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d/acc, defensive accelerationism, Vitalik Buterin, ENS domain, decentralized identity, AI ethics, Web3 philosophy