Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has called out to the blockchain industry to increase acceptance by participating in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity events.
In a tweet that has sparked considerable discussion within the crypto community, Buterin made it clear that the blockchain industry needs to open up. He further suggested, in response to a thread on what events PrivacyScaling should attend in 2025, that the first key step is to engage actively with mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity conferences. Doing this can also increase acceptance by participating in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity events. build bridges with non-blockchain decentralization projects such as social media platforms like Mastodon and database protocol Secure Scuttlebutt.
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IMO the fact that mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity and non-blockchain decentralization are considered "non crypto" is itself a failure (imo largely from the "crypto" side), and it's worth taking steps to address this😊
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 6, 2025
Buterin’s action invites attention to one pressing concern: the tendency of the crypto industry to seclude itself in a bubble. By only attending blockchain-focused events, the community becomes insular, leaving out opportunities for cross-pollination with experts in other fields.
“Classifying common cryptography and decentralization initiatives as ‘non-crypto’ is a huge failure,” tweeted Buterin. He added that this failure is largely from the side of the crypto industry and stressed the urgent need to act in this context.
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Devansh Mehta, another X member, had also said that there should be programs like the Ethereum Foundation Scholars Program to encourage participation in non-crypto events. In his tweets, he expressed the urgent need to outgrow mere insular discussions and for the crypto world to start establishing realms of connection with the communities outside the blockchain. This shift may not only see the crypto industry grab more insights on the table but also aid blockchain knowledge dissemination for technology skeptics across different fields. Forging these relations could bring up a coalesced strategy for tackling global issues such as data protection, digital sovereignty, and decentralization.
Long advocated that the EF scholars program led by @_madison_adams should begin supporting our attendance at non crypto events, not just the ones where we circle jerk among ourselves
— Devansh Mehta (@TheDevanshMehta) January 6, 2025
Bridging the gap
Going out of the “crypto bubble” do have difficulties of its own. Shaw, co-founder of ai16z, on a Delphi Digital podcast said that decentralized funding and market intelligence would combine to create the most sustainable source of transformative potential within the space of crypto. “The market is a form of intelligence, identifies opportunity, applies capital, and optimizes to the best version of things,” Shaw comments. He adds that, “The main problem in crypto is that people hit that emotional tone but haven’t delivered.” His vision resonates with Vitalik Buterin’s call for crypto to conduct innovation together with fields outside of crypto.
The industry will have to conquer the preconceived notions and misconceptions on both ends. Mainstream technologists usually look at blockchain initiatives as too speculative or financially driven, whereas crypto people may as well dismiss knowledge outside of their area of interest. However, the advantages far outweigh the downsides.
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