Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has reflected on the changing landscape of the cryptocurrency world and encouraged the next generation to take up leadership roles. In a blog shared on his 30th birthday, Wednesday, Buterin recalled about his experiences over the last decade and the evolving dynamics within the crypto community.
According to the crypto mogul, one touching memory that stood out was observing individuals about a decade younger than himself assuming leading roles in various projects, from crypto auditing to Ethereum layer 2 scaling. He acknowledged the shift in his role, emphasizing that it was time for the next generation to take up the mantle of leadership.
“But watching all of these people go further than I did, younger than I did, made me clearly realize that if that was ever my role, it is no longer. I am now in some different kind of role, and it is time for the next generation to take up the mantle that used to be mine,” wrote Buterin.
The Ethereum co-founder, known for his advocacy of life extension, further delved into the limited nature of beautiful aspects of life. From friendships fading away to personal identity evolving, Buterin emphasized that this reality has influenced his perspective on life, advising readers to approach life with a gentle touch.
Notably, the blog also touched on Buterin’s strained relationship with Russia, stemming from his endorsement of crypto donations for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022. Despite his Russian nationality, Buterin expressed frustration at having met President Putin in 2017, noting that he had “finally realized that I had been complicit in legitimizing a genocidal dictator”
“I no longer had the luxury of sitting back and letting mystical “other people” run the show.” Added Buterin.
Reflecting on the broader crypto space, Buterin highlighted its potential impact beyond finance. He urged players in the crypto ecosystem to remind people of the importance of money and finance, especially in serving the underserved, while also advocating for a more holistic vision of a decentralized tech stack.
Notably, in a recent post titled “Make Ethereum Cypherpunk Again,” Buterin proposed expanding Ethereum’s horizons beyond finance, advocating for a decentralized tech stack that competes with centralized tech companies across various domains.
That said, Buterin, who is bullish on the future of crypto, further emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding among token holders, intellectuals, builders, and users, noting that “each of the four parts has something key to offer to the machine as a whole.”
