Ethereum
Here’s Why Ethereum’s Buterin Project Is ‘Cancelled’
Alex Dovbnia
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sparked a backlash in the cryptocurrency community with a seemingly innocuous stance on air quality.
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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has joked about being “canceled” on social media after speaking out about the importance of purifying indoor air.
“Me, early 2024: hmm, haven’t been canceled in a while, maybe I should say something spicy and do another round… Me, July 2024: canceled to… try not to catch airborne diseases,” Buterin added.
On Saturday, the Canadian programmer posted a photo of himself wearing a face mask on a plane next to an air quality monitor that showed high CO2 levels.
He said modern aircraft typically have relatively clear air thanks to ventilation and filtration, but those mechanisms tend to be turned off when the aircraft is on the ground.
Buterin is concerned about many different viruses that can potentially contaminate the air.
“It’s not the CO2 itself that’s the (main) problem, it’s more of an indirect way of measuring that about 7% of the air I would inhale is air that was exhaled by other people. 3,000 ppm and above means *a lot* of various viruses,” Buterin added in a post on the social network X.
Buterin has long focused on improving indoor air quality and air hygiene. That said, the reaction from the cryptocurrency community, which is rife with anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists, was predictably unnerving. Many users half-jokingly said they were considering selling their Ether holdings in response to Buterin’s post. Some also resorted to ad hominem insults.
“The delta between the minds behind crypto and the minds of crypto consumers is quite impressive to see,” noted one social media user.
Buterin is no stranger to controversial stances. In 2022, he sparked backlash after claiming that synthetic wombs could potentially reduce gender inequality.
About the Author
Alex Dovbnia
Alex Dovbnya (aka AlexMorris) is a cryptocurrency expert, trader, and journalist with extensive experience covering everything related to this booming industry, from price analysis to blockchain disruption. Alex has written over 1,000 articles for U.Today, CryptoComes, and other fintech outlets. He is particularly interested in regulatory trends around the world that are shaping the future of digital assets. You can contact him at alex.dovbnya@u.today.