Key Takeaways
- Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, is affiliated with China-funded WXblockchain and Prometheum Inc.
- Eleanor Terrett of Fox Business revealed Buterin’s role as co-founder of WXblockchain and Chief Scientist at Wanxiang Blockchain Labs.
- Community reactions have been largely negative, with concerns about the implications of this association.
In a startling revelation, Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin has been linked to Wanxiang Blockchain, known as WXblockchain, and Prometheum Inc., both of which are Chinese-funded entities. Eleanor Terrett, an esteemed journalist and producer at Fox Business, disclosed this information that has set the crypto community abuzz.
Wanxiang Blockchain is an integral part of the Wanxiang Group, a Chinese multinational automotive component manufacturing company that has branched out into blockchain technology.
The revelation delineates Vitalik Buterin as a co-founder of WXblockchain and, intriguingly, as the Chief Scientist at Wanxiang Blockchain Labs. Furthermore, Prometheum Inc., which falls under the umbrella of WXblockchain, has recently secured the rights to operate a cryptocurrency exchange in the United States.
Buterin’s involvement in these entities, especially considering their Chinese funding, has cast ripples through the crypto community. It is noteworthy that China has been skeptical of cryptocurrencies, yet Buterin’s association with a Chinese-funded blockchain project raises eyebrows. The revelation might also lead to questions on the alignment of his views with those of the Ethereum community at large.
Social media platforms and crypto forums have been inundated with negative reactions from the community. Many view this affiliation as a potential conflict of interest, given China’s often adversarial stance on cryptocurrencies.
Lastly, critics opine that Buterin’s association with these entities could potentially influence Ethereum’s direction, which is concerning for those who advocate for decentralization and autonomy from government control. How will this turn out is a question that is yet to be answered.