Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed disappointment over the increasing acceptance of blockchain-based casinos within the Ethereum community. During a recent Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) session on the Tako platform, Buterin was candid about his frustrations when asked if he had ever felt let down by the Ethereum Foundation, the broader crypto industry, or the Ethereum community. His response was straightforward: “Of course.”
Buterin specifically criticized the growing enthusiasm for gambling applications and memecoins within the Ethereum ecosystem. In what appeared to be a subtle critique of Solana, which has witnessed significant activity around memecoins over the past year, Buterin argued against Ethereum’s potential shift toward these trends.
Ethereum’s Morality and Competitive Edge at Stake
The Ethereum co-founder warned that embracing these trends could compromise the community’s ethical standards, describing such a move as a “moral reversal.” He stressed that while some Ethereum supporters believe adapting to the popularity of gambling and memecoins is necessary to maintain its competitive edge, he vehemently disagrees. In his view, this would be a misstep for Ethereum’s long-term vision and values.
Buterin’s comments come as Ethereum faces increasing competition from other blockchains, such as Solana, which has attracted significant new developer interest by tapping into trending markets. Despite this, Buterin remains steadfast in his belief that Ethereum should not follow fleeting trends, but rather continue its mission of building useful, impactful applications.
While disappointed, Buterin acknowledged a dichotomy between online opinions and real-life conversations. “On the internet, many people will say those things, but when I chat with the community in person, everyone’s values are the same as before,” he remarked. This observation reaffirmed his sense of responsibility to stay involved with the Ethereum ecosystem, despite the growing tensions surrounding its direction.
In the ongoing competition among blockchain platforms, Ethereum continues to grapple with its identity—whether to follow the hype surrounding gaming and memecoins or to focus on its original goal of creating valuable decentralized applications.
Related topics:
Argentina’s Opposition Moves to Impeach President Milei Over Crypto Scandal
Man Arrested for Climbing Hollywood Sign in Crypto Promotion Stunt
ED Seizes ₹1,646 Crore in Crypto Assets from Ahmedabad Man Linked to BitConnect Scam
