Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has called out Elon Musk, telling the X owner to back off with the account suspensions. In a polite yet scathing response to the handling of dissent on X, the blockchain genius made it clear he’s not impressed with the liberal use of the “banhammer” to silence voices that don’t align with Elon’s views.
Vitalik warned that such actions are dangerous for public discourse and could lead to chaos rather than constructive dialogue. The critique came after Elon’s aggressive reaction to a user accusing him of trying to “optimize something that shouldn’t exist,” in regards to the H-1B visa program.
The eccentric billionaire lashed out, tweeting, “Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” an escalation that instantly got him a lot of backlash.
Vitalik warns of the dangers of censorship
In his response, Vitalik pointed out that free speech is easy to support when you agree with the message but much harder when the opinions are tough to swallow. “Respecting free speech is easy when we agree with the speech, and hard when we think it’s awful,” he said.
The Ether founder warned Elon that wielding the banhammer to control discourse today only paves the way for others to use it tomorrow. “The banhammer is controlled by one group today, it will be controlled by another group tomorrow, and every use of it legitimizes further use,” Vitalik explained.
His argument centered on the idea that suppressing speech leads to either fractured conversations, a dominant monoculture, or constant hostility among opposing factions. Vitalik said:
“I feel like a lot of people have been okay with rising aggressiveness because the target of the aggressiveness was one faction that they disliked, but once that beast is summoned, its nature is to look for new targets, and even if you approve of the first target you may not approve of the second or the third or the fourth – as many people have been finding out this week.”
Vitalik also took aim at the aggressive tone of online discussions, something he says has worsened over the past few years. He emphasized that leaders like Elon play a critical role in setting the tone for these conversations.
“It’s not ‘wartime mode’ that will get humanity to Mars in one piece; it’s something brighter,” he said, calling for a change in attitude and approach. That’s just Vitalik.
In a surprising jab at Elon, he actually said, “This isn’t the kind of memetic beast we want running the show when we’re entering an era of dangerous global political competition and rapidly improving AI. The role of leaders in setting the tone is really important, and can be used to great good or great evil.”
Elon’s H-1B visa battle
Elon Musk has never backed down from sharing his opinions, and his recent defense of the H-1B visa program is no exception. The visa, which allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers, has been a cornerstone for his companies, Tesla and SpaceX.
In 2024 alone, Tesla secured 724 H-1B visas, highlighting how essential the program is for filling key roles. Elon himself immigrated to the U.S. from South Africa and became a citizen in 2002.
He credits the H-1B program and skilled immigration for much of America’s technological success, saying, “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies… is because of H-1B.”
Accusations of censorship pile up
Elon is also under fire for allegedly silencing conservative accounts on X. Reports indicate that at least 14 right-wing accounts lost their verification badges after criticizing Elon’s stance on immigration. Losing verification not only affects credibility but also hits visibility and monetization on the platform, making it a serious issue for content creators.
Critics say Elon is using his power to squash dissenting voices, something that feels hypocritical for a self-proclaimed free-speech absolutist. Elon fired back, labeling his detractors as “hateful racists” and “contemptible fools.”
He argued that these critics are harming the Republican Party with their extreme rhetoric. This internal rift within the MAGA movement proves the growing tension over immigration policy. Elon, who supports legal immigration but opposes illegal immigration, finds himself in the crossfire of an ideological battle that refuses to die down. And what’s more, Trump actually took his side on the matter.
Enter “Kekius Maximus”
In typical Elon fashion, he added fuel to the fire by changing his display name on X to “Kekius Maximus.” This peculiar moniker combines internet meme culture with Roman grandeur, referencing both Pepe the Frog and Maximus Decimus Meridius, the legendary character from Gladiator.
Pepe the Frog, once an innocent meme, has been co-opted by various online subcultures, some of which have links to extremism. But Elon is using it in a tongue-in-cheek manner, leaning into the absurdity of internet culture.
The name change coincided with a surge in a memecoin called KEKIUS, which saw its value skyrocket by 500% within hours. As of press time, KEKIUS was trading at $0.005667, with trading volumes surging fast.
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