Support for Donald Trump: The crypto community divided following Vitalik Buterin's criticism

Vitalik Buterin, the brain behind Ethereum, recently shook the crypto sphere by advising against voting for politicians solely based on their pro-crypto stance. His post on X caused a real storm of reactions within the community. While some share his concerns, others, like Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Cardano, believe that this approach lacks strategic vision for the survival and growth of the industry.

Buterin and the uniqueness of the political issue

Buterin warns against the risk of supporting “pro-crypto” candidates without evaluating their overall vision for technology and society. According to him, such an approach could result in support for politicians whose general values might conflict with those of the crypto community.

He states:

“By giving the impression that you support candidates just because they are pro-crypto, you contribute to an environment where politicians only need to simulate their support to gain votes.”

This statement was strongly criticized by Charles Hoskinson, who argues that making cryptocurrency a major election issue will force politicians to moderate their actions against the industry.

Against choosing your political allegiances based on who is "pro-crypto"https://t.co/rEbRjZYtFB

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 17, 2024

Bitcoin and politics: A marriage of convenience?

The debate on the importance of crypto in electoral choices has gained traction as the 2024 presidential elections approach in the United States. Hoskinson, a fervent crypto advocate, argues that voting for pro-crypto candidates is essential to protect the industry.

According to him, voting for candidates like Joe Biden could be disastrous for the future of crypto in the United States. He states on X:

“A vote for Biden is a vote for the death of the American crypto industry.”

This statement is backed by impressive figures: a Harris Poll study for Grayscale shows that 47% of American voters consider including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum in their investment portfolio.

Chain reactions in the crypto community: Buterin under fire

Buterin’s remarks also drew the ire of figures like Ryan Selkis, former CEO of Messari. Selkis, known for his extreme positions, called Buterin the “most naive and useless political commentator.”

By openly supporting Trump, Selkis shows how crypto can polarize opinions. According to him, the survival of crypto requires an aggressive political approach, even if it means supporting controversial figures. He eventually resigned due to his overly extreme position.

Suji Yan, founder of Mask Network, reacted with outrage:

“This is insane. We are cutting all ties with Messari.”

This is retarded. Will stop all potential deals with Messari and stop going to all their events. Will also advice our partners and portfolio companies think twice on partnering with them. https://t.co/s1ZYwUZeAi

— Suji Yan – Mask is BUIDLing (@suji_yan) July 18, 2024

This tense climate shows that crypto has become a central issue in political debate, capable of dividing even its most ardent supporters.

Vitalik Buterin, guardian of the original crypto values, continues to warn against dangerous investments and risky political alliances. For him, integrity and a global vision must prevail over immediate gains.