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Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Says His Creation Can't Succeed Unless He Takes a Step Back (technologyreview.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: When you ask him about the challenges facing the blockchain system he founded five years ago, Vitalik Buterin often launches into a rapid-fire lecture full of Ethereum-specific jargon. But ask him about his own role in the technology's future, and he quickly becomes more circumspect. There's no doubt that Buterin, 24, is still the guiding light for the idealistic community that has sprung up around his creation. That's been front and center this week in Prague, where thousands of developers, investors, and entrepreneurs have gathered for Devcon, the annual "family reunion" organized by the nonprofit Ethereum Foundation. The most popular discussion topic is Buterin's vision for "Ethereum 2.0," a future iteration meant to be capable of operating efficiently at a much larger scale -- and appeal to a much broader user base -- than it can today. But in a conversation with MIT Technology Review on the sidelines of Devcon, Buterin said it's time for him to start fading into the background as "a necessary part of the growth of the community."

18 comments

  1. I agree by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    The only thing keeping me from putting all my money into Ethereum is Vitalik Buterin. He needs to chill out.

    1. Re:I agree by Pinky's+Brain · · Score: 2

      At least he treats it as a tool to accomplish a goal other than keeping an investment scam going as long as possible. That earns him some respect.

      Not that I think the goal is worth going after, I think that governments will at some point will stamp out unregulated currency transfers ... so what's the point of making a system to do so in the most complex way possible? Cryptocurrency will be e-gold v2.0, regardless of whether it's an unscaleable power hungry POS.

    2. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      isnt the person at or near the top of a Ponzi scheme cashing out a indicator that its about to topple?

    3. Re:I agree by Pinky's+Brain · · Score: 1

      All the developers who got in early on Bitcoin/Ethereum/etc will have diversified their assets by now, that doesn't necessarily stop them from coding or being part of the project. It was their hobby to start with and billionaires still have hobbies.

  2. No by nwaack · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Your creation can't succeed because it's a pile of fake, useless crap.

    1. Re:No by sjwest · · Score: 1

      I have no idea how you 'make' Ethereum since most of web pages i once quickly looked at (dns has something to do with it) where written in Cyrillic and used shady software . Still have no idea.

  3. Ah, another #metoo victim no doubt. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's what's going around these days.

  4. You had me at "can't succeed" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That could have been a much shorter headline.

  5. MeToo'd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He probably touched a woman's bare back without express written consent at some point in the past and wants to make sure his technology doesn't go the way of ReiserFS.

  6. Getting out while he can by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read...

    Time to cut and run while I can still con someone into giving me real money for these coins.

  7. Time to take a 'Linus' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    n/t

  8. Re:KDE is a pile of shit by zidium · · Score: 1

    You posted on the wrong thread, buddy...

    https://news.slashdot.org/stor...

    --
    Slashdot Valentines Beta Massacre: iT WORKED! The boycotts killed Beta!!
  9. translation by iggymanz · · Score: 1

    Etherium is going to crash, don't be a bag holder, get out!

  10. Time to runaway!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Translation:
    The scam is about to collapse!!!
    Re-hyping attempts no longer working!!!
    => So, this means it is time to disappear & save yourself from any fallout!!!

  11. When even the founder is jumping ship by melted · · Score: 1, Troll

    When even the founder is jumping ship you know it's going down. Cryptocurrencies have been around for 10 years and they have a big fat zero to show for it and aren't used for anything other than buying drugs on darknet. Epic fail.

    1. Re: When even the founder is jumping ship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are all misinformed, dumb sheeple. Brainwashed american gullible idiots, caught in the real sinking ship, that is your own draconian capitalistic world order.
      Crypto and blockchain is used for wast amounts of real world things. From the shipping industry, to government bonds and law.
      You naysayers will be the poor underclass of the future.
      Fantasy money?? Please demonstrate for me, the validety and real value of an american dollar. I dare you.

  12. Good by inking · · Score: 1

    Now that Vitalik has made a ton of real money from his very successful brand of make believe money, I absolutely support his idea of going out there and building something that will actually contribute to the gross domestic product. Maybe he could start a hat-making company or something.