Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated a total of 256 ETH, split equally between two lesser-known messaging apps, Session and SimpleX. Each received 128 ETH as part of Buterin's commitment to enhancing encrypted communication and metadata privacy. This move comes amid tightening regulations in regions like the EU, highlighting Buterin's support for more radical privacy solutions. Session operates on a decentralized network with token incentives, eliminating the need for phone numbers, while SimpleX offers complete de-identification, removing even user IDs and maintaining a non-financial approach. Despite challenges such as latency, multi-device synchronization, and abuse prevention, Buterin's donation is seen as a long-term bet on the value of privacy infrastructure.