Vitalik Buterin wants crypto industry to engage with non-crypto tech and communities

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Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, encourages the blockchain community to expand their reach by taking part in well-known cryptography and cybersecurity conferences to boost industry acceptance.

In a tweet that’s ignited a lot of debate within the crypto world, Buterin emphasized that the blockchain sector should become more open. He proposed, in reaction to a discussion about which events PrivacyScaling should attend in 2025, that the initial crucial action is to actively participate in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity conferences. This could help foster acceptance by attending such events and building connections. Moreover, he suggested reaching out to non-blockchain decentralization projects like Mastodon (a social media platform) and Secure Scuttlebutt (a database protocol), aiming to establish bridges between them.

In my opinion, it’s disappointing that practices like mainstream cryptography, cybersecurity, and non-blockchain decentralization are often not recognized as part of the “crypto” world. I believe this misconception is a shortcoming, particularly from the perspective of the “crypto” community, and it would be beneficial to take action to change this perception.😊

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 6, 2025

As a crypto investor, I find myself drawn to ponder a matter of utmost importance raised by Buterin: the propensity of our realm to erect an isolating bubble around itself. By confining my attendance to blockchain-centric gatherings, I’ve noticed that our community tends to become self-contained, thus excluding chances for fruitful interactions with experts hailing from diverse fields. This narrow focus could potentially limit our growth and innovation.

As a researcher, I’d rephrase that statement like this: “I, Vince (or any researcher), pointed out on Twitter that categorizing widespread cryptography and decentralization projects as ‘non-crypto’ is a significant oversight. This misstep primarily originates from within the crypto industry itself, and I strongly emphasize the immediate need for corrective action in this area.

Devansh Mehta, another member from our group, suggested that we should establish initiatives similar to the Ethereum Foundation Scholars Program to foster participation in non-cryptocurrency events. In his tweets, he emphasized the importance of moving beyond isolated conversations within the crypto community and connecting with communities outside the blockchain. This change could not only provide the cryptocurrency industry with valuable new perspectives but also help spread blockchain knowledge to technology skeptics in various fields. By building these relationships, we could develop a unified approach for addressing global issues like data privacy, digital autonomy, and decentralization.

It’s been suggested that the EF scholars program led by @_madison_adams should start considering our participation in events outside of the crypto sphere, rather than only those where we exclusively interact with like-minded individuals.

— Devansh Mehta (@TheDevanshMehta) January 6, 2025

Bridging the gap

Stepping out from the “cryptocurrency bubble” brings its own set of challenges. During a Delphi Digital podcast, Shaun, co-founder of ai16z, expressed that blending decentralized financing and market knowledge could foster the most enduring source of revolutionary potential in the realm of cryptocurrencies. Shaw notes that “the market acts as a form of intelligence, recognizing opportunities, allocating capital, and refining towards optimal outcomes.” He further highlights that one major issue in crypto is that people often express strong emotions but fail to deliver on their promises. This perspective aligns with Vitalik Buterin’s appeal for cryptocurrencies to collaborate on innovation alongside fields beyond just the crypto sector.

In order to progress, the industry must challenge and overcome the entrenched views and misconceptions that exist on all sides. Typically, mainstream tech professionals view blockchain projects as overly speculative or financially motivated, while crypto enthusiasts may disregard information outside of their specific interest. However, the benefits greatly outnumber the drawbacks.

To advance, we need to break down the stereotypes and misconceptions that are prevalent among all parties. Mainstream tech specialists often see blockchain ventures as overly speculative or financially focused, whereas crypto advocates might ignore information outside their niche. Nevertheless, the positive aspects clearly surpass the negatives.

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2025-01-06 14:52