Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, created the platform at the age of 19 and became a billionaire in his 20s. Often referred to as "V God" in the crypto community, Buterin is a spiritual leader who pioneered Blockchain 2.0. Born in Russia in 1994, he immigrated to Canada with his father at six. Growing up during the internet's rise, he witnessed both its promises and pitfalls—data monopolization, surveillance, and polarized social media.
At 17, Buterin discovered Bitcoin. He briefly attended the University of Waterloo before dropping out to explore Bitcoin communities globally, seeking broader blockchain applications. In late 2013, he published the Ethereum whitepaper. Beyond introducing Ether (ETH), Ethereum enabled decentralized applications (DApps) via smart contracts, aiming to return data control to users and authorship to creators.
Six years post-launch, Ether became the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Ethereum’s ecosystem now spans decentralized finance (DeFi), social media, publishing, and governance.
Web3 Wave
Q: The 1990s promised an open internet, but Big Tech and censorship prevailed. Can Web3 and blockchain change this trajectory? For instance, China’s digital yuan enhances state surveillance. Will Web3 empower individuals or centralize control further?
Buterin: The internet wasn’t a total failure—it enabled global communication and cryptocurrencies. However, centralized surveillance is rampant. Two forces exist: AI (centralized, "communist") and crypto (decentralized, "libertarian"). Public blockchains thrive because they resist control, unlike consortium chains that stagnate due to governance issues.
Ethereum and Decentralized Apps
Q: Ethereum’s price soared, but its goal was censorship resistance. Beyond DeFi, what progress exists?
Buterin: DeFi succeeded due to financial inefficiencies (e.g., slow cross-border payments). Other areas, like anti-censorship tools in #MeToo movements, show promise but face higher usability barriers.
Q: If you focused on one DApp, what would it be?
Buterin: Social media. Current platforms suffer from bias and polarization. Decentralized alternatives like Status (P2P, no servers) are emerging but need better UX to compete with Twitter.
Q: Thoughts on Facebook and Twitter in crypto/metaverse?
Buterin: Facebook’s Libra failed due to distrust. Twitter’s Bluesky (decentralized) could innovate if it separates UI from data layers and allows user migration.
NFTs and Governance
Q: How do you view NFTs’ future?
Buterin: NFTs surprised me—they attract artists and cultural figures, not just financiers. Their sustainability remains unproven, but they’ve expanded crypto’s appeal.
Q: Successful DAOs?
Buterin: Uniswap (complex governance), Gitcoin (quadratic funding), and VitaDAO (longevity research). Ethereum Foundation increasingly funds external projects to decentralize influence.
Crypto Community and Worldview
Q: What shaped your worldview?
Buterin: Rationalist and altruist communities emphasized evidence-based giving. Bitcoin developers showed dedication beyond profit. I reject extremism, favoring open dialogue.
Q: Identity as a Canadian or global citizen?
Buterin: A world citizen. I’ve lived in the U.S., Europe, and Asia—each offers values I share but none wholly define me.
Q: Ideal community traits?
Buterin: Openness, goodwill, interdisciplinary collaboration, and focus on cooperation over competition.
👉 Explore Ethereum’s latest developments
FAQs
1. How does Ethereum differ from Bitcoin?
Ethereum enables smart contracts and DApps, while Bitcoin focuses on peer-to-peer cash.
2. What’s quadratic funding?
A democratic funding model where community donations determine project support, matching funds proportionally.
3. Can DAOs replace traditional companies?
They offer decentralized governance but face scalability and legal recognition challenges.
4. Are NFTs more than art?
Yes—they represent ownership in real estate, identity, and more.
5. Is Web3 resistant to censorship?
Yes, via decentralized storage and P2P networks, but adoption barriers remain.
6. Will Ethereum switch to proof-of-stake?
Yes, via Ethereum 2.0 to reduce energy use and improve scalability.