Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently discussed his vision for the future of Ethereum, global public issues, and humanitarian aid in the Russia-Ukraine war, showcasing how he extends from technological innovation to actions of human concern.
First visit to China and the emergence of the local cryptocurrency community
Vitalik first visited China in 2014 and embarked on a three-week visit, visiting multiple teams in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen, including exchanges like Huobi, OKCoin, and miners. Vitalik was impressed by the development of blockchain in China at that time, believing that its scale even surpassed that of the United States.
In 2015, Vitalik visited China again and closely collaborated with supporters like Wanxiang Group and BitShares CEO Shen Bo. Vitalik also recalled that Wanxiang Group had purchased 410,000 ethers (ETH) at a price of $1.2, which not only rescued the Ethereum Foundation from financial difficulties but also became a key boost for Ethereum's development.
The cultural transformation of Bitcoin, from diversity to a single vision
Vitalik recalled the early Bitcoin community, stating that supporters from 2011 to 2013 were quite diverse, including libertarians, socialists, and others with different positions, who rationally discussed social issues. However, with the birth of Ethereum and the block size dispute, the Bitcoin community gradually became divided, ultimately forming a single vision centered on 'digital gold.'
Vitalik pointed out that supporters of Bitcoin's small blocks focus on positioning Bitcoin as 'digital gold', hoping to use the Lightning Network as a solution for the payment layer. However, in practice, the Lightning Network has developed quite slowly due to centralization and stability issues. Compared to Ethereum's open attitude toward innovative applications, the Bitcoin community appears overly conservative.
Cultural differences between Ethereum and Bitcoin, a comparison of visions and values
Vitalik described the cultural differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum as a comparison of values. He stated that Bitcoin holders tend to focus on the growth of their own wealth, emphasizing Bitcoin's price performance and asset preservation. In contrast, the Ethereum community is more concerned with the development of public services, such as DeFi, SocialFi, and global cooperation.
He emphasized that Ethereum's goal is to build a globally shared open network, enabling various applications through smart contracts and providing more possibilities for future technology. He believes that this investment in the public interest is the main reason Ethereum continues to attract users and developers.
The original intention of blockchain, freedom and decentralization
Vitalik believes that the core vision of Ethereum is more appropriately described as a decentralized 'world computer.' He mentioned that most past applications relied on centralized servers for data management, but this leads to issues of price monopolization, privacy risks, and user control.
He and Polkadot co-founder Gavin Wood are trying to use blockchain technology to establish a decentralized information platform, further promoting the concept of open source. Regarding the claim of 'Is Ethereum a digital nation?', he believes that Ethereum should focus on providing a neutral technological platform rather than intervening too much in public policy areas.
The shock and action of the Russia-Ukraine war, from surprise to engagement
The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war shocked Vitalik. On February 24, 2022, he witnessed the Russian army attacking Ukraine and condemned the war on Twitter that evening, quickly confirming whether the cryptocurrency donation address announced by the Ukrainian government was correct. After confirmation, Vitalik immediately donated to support and called on others to help Ukraine as well.
Afterward, Vitalik felt increasingly angry about the news of the Bucha massacre, so he donated $5 million. He candidly admitted that after participating in this support, he might never be able to return to Russia, as he could be immediately arrested upon return. He described this experience as a major turning point in his life, transforming him from a technological innovator to an active participant in global humanitarian issues.
The global perspective of blockchain, the importance of marginalized regions
Vitalik believes that the value of blockchain lies in solving the issue of 'trust', especially in countries with unstable financial systems, such as Argentina. He mentioned that Argentina has long been affected by high inflation, and public trust in fiat currency and the banking system has almost collapsed; at this time, blockchain becomes an important alternative.
He also mentioned that blockchain is one of the few platforms that can transcend borders and cultures, functioning in areas that distrust traditional finance or centralized technology. He further stated that the advantage of blockchain is that it allows people from all over the world to use it equally, unaffected by geography and politics.
(Michael Saylor's comments on Bitcoin custody sparked controversy, Vitalik: This is not the meaning of the existence of cryptocurrency)
This article 'Vitalik's worldview and actions: Bitcoin community only cares about price performance, Ethereum focuses on public welfare' first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.
