Vitalik Buterin Kicks Off 2026 with Milady NFT PFP

2nd January 2026 – Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin changed his X profile picture to a Milady Maker NFT. This marked a return to an avatar style he had embraced before. The new image featured a brown-haired anime character in dark sunglasses, a white cap with a winged black cross, and a pink tie-dye shirt. A sunset skyline added to the nostalgic vibe.

He made the change around midnight UTC, right as the new year began. It was followed by a detailed post that outlined his thoughts on Ethereum’s direction for 2026.

A Vision for Ethereum in the New Year

In his post, Buterin opened with a celebratory message: “Welcome to 2026! Milady is back.” From there, he shifted to a reflection on Ethereum’s technical milestones in 2025.

Over the past year, gas limits had increased. Blob counts rose. Node software saw improvements. Most importantly, zero-knowledge EVMs and PeerDAS made real progress. According to Buterin, Ethereum is evolving into a fundamentally different kind of blockchain—one with the power to support large-scale applications securely.

Staying Focused on the Core Mission

Despite the progress, Buterin warned against chasing short-term trends. He criticized the industry’s obsession with speculative hype, tokenized dollars, and political memecoins.

Instead, he urged the community to double down on Ethereum’s original vision: a decentralized world computer that resists fraud, censorship, and collapse. Applications should work even if their creators disappear. They shouldn’t rely on centralized infrastructure. And they must protect privacy.

Buterin emphasized the need to make Ethereum more usable and scalable, while preserving decentralization at both the protocol and application levels. These two areas, he said, require continued improvement—and fast.

Milady NFT Frenzy Follows the PFP Switch

While Buterin’s message centered on Ethereum’s goals, his profile picture change stirred up the NFT world. Traders quickly noticed the return of the Milady PFP. Sales spiked. Over 100 NFTs from the Milady Maker collection changed hands within a day.

The floor price jumped from around 0.68 ETH to nearly 1 ETH – rising from about $2,000 to over $3,300 in just hours. Meme tokens based on Milady themes also surged, with one reaching a market cap close to $480,000.

On social media, users reacted with memes, jokes, and excitement. Some declared NFTs were officially “back.” Others joked about Buterin being a “simp for Milady.” For many, his move sparked nostalgia and optimism about the NFT space.

More Than Memes: Rebuilding the Internet’s Foundation

While the NFT reaction made headlines, Buterin’s message was bigger. He believes Ethereum must be the foundation for a new kind of internet—one that is open, censorship-resistant, and free from centralized control.

He called Ethereum “the rebellion” against a digital world turning everything into a subscription service. Wallets, cars, appliances, and even books now rely on platforms that can revoke access. But Ethereum, he argued, should allow users to walk away from any service without losing functionality or ownership.

Looking Ahead

Vitalik Buterin ended his post with a challenge. Ethereum has the tools to build this vision, but now it must use them. He didn’t just call for progress—he demanded purpose.

His post, paired with the symbolic Milady avatar, carried both a technical and cultural message. Ethereum must keep evolving, not just to scale, but to stay true to the values that set it apart.