Vitalik Buterin Explains Main Difference Between Crypto 5 Years Ago and Now

As a seasoned crypto investor with a deep understanding of the industry’s evolution, I couldn’t agree more with Vitalik Buterin’s recent perspective on the cryptocurrency market. Although the landscape has significantly changed since the idealistic days of 2018-2019, the revolutionary spirit of blockchain technology remains strong.


Vitalik Buterin has highlighted some noteworthy differences between the current cryptocurrency market and the scene from 2018-2019. Despite numerous developments in the practical applications, essential concepts have stayed consistent.

Buterin acknowledged that the pioneering and visionary concepts of blockchain continue to thrive, as noted by Weisenthal’s observation about crypto culture evolving. Previously, the cryptocurrency community strongly advocated for principles such as decentralized internet control, universal basic income (UBI), and blockchain-based democracy.

Currently, the majority of crypto initiatives revolve around memes or community building with commercial objectives in mind. In contrast, Buterin highlighted that numerous concepts within this realm have progressed substantially and have come to fruition. Some examples he provided are:

“We’re alive and kicking! Progress on the open internet front has been significant. For instance, we now have Farcasters and Lenses, Quadratic and Retroactive Funding systems, Zupass, as well as methods to send Ethereum while preserving privacy. Moreover, there are implementations of ZK (Zero-Knowledge) voting.”

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 19, 2024

Farcaster and Lens, two decentralized social networking platforms, are championing the concept of digital democracy by making the internet more open and user-driven.

The principles of Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Collective Benefit align well with these funding methods, promoting fair distribution of resources and offering incentives for noteworthy initiatives.

Voting systems that use zero-knowledge proofs enhance both privacy and security. By employing this technology, voters’ choices remain confidential while still allowing verification that a valid vote was cast. This approach bolsters trust in the democratic process as it upholds the principles of secrecy and accuracy.

The essential elements of blockchain tech – decentralization, privacy, and innovative financing methods – continue to drive progress despite the current market focus on finance, according to Buterin’s insights.

The dedication of our community to harnessing blockchain technology for broader societal and technical gains is evident through its ongoing advancement. The vision of creating a decentralized, inclusive, and transparent web remains vibrant, and we’re inching ever closer to making it a reality each day.

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2024-06-20 14:02