Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said on X on Sunday, Nov. 8, that he disagrees with strong criticism of movements opposing large-scale AI data-center construction and supports deliberately slowing the buildout. He argued that improving algorithms could allow workloads expected to require larger facilities within two years to run on existing infrastructure by about year four, reducing the technological cost of a construction pause. Buterin framed the delay as a safety measure that could provide more time to prepare for cybersecurity threats and potential biological risks linked to AI’s rapid spread. He also said scientific progress depends on factors beyond AI computing capacity, meaning a one-year slowdown in AI development would not necessarily postpone scientific advances by the same period. His position contrasts with Bitcoin mining companies’ push to convert power assets into AI and high-performance-computing infrastructure. Riot Platforms announced a 15-year, 910-megawatt Texas lease with estimated contracted revenue of $28 billion, while Cipher Digital reported its first high-performance-computing lease revenue and raised expected Barber Lake revenue to about $9.1 billion. Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has proposed a moratorium on new data-center approvals while protections for energy costs, water supplies and public participation are considered.