21-2-2025 – Vitalik Buterin, the influential co-founder of Ethereum, has voiced stern criticism of what he perceives as a troubling shift towards gambling-centric applications within the blockchain community. In a candid exchange during a Tako platform AMA session, Buterin expressed profound disappointment with certain elements of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
The tech visionary took particular issue with growing pressure to embrace blockchain-based gambling applications, in what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to rival platform Solana’s recent trajectory. His comments come amid Solana’s surge in popularity, marked by an influx of meme tokens and gambling-oriented applications.
“The notion that Ethereum should become more accommodating to casino-style applications is deeply concerning,” Buterin remarked, addressing mounting criticism from some quarters that Ethereum risks losing its competitive edge by maintaining its current stance.
The situation has become particularly pointed as Solana continues to attract developer talent, with recent data suggesting it has overtaken Ethereum in new developer acquisition. However, Buterin remained steadfast in his position, going so far as to suggest he would withdraw from the ecosystem if it underwent what he termed a “moral reversal”.
Nevertheless, Buterin’s outlook wasn’t entirely pessimistic. He noted a striking disparity between online discourse and real-world interactions with community members. “In face-to-face conversations, I find our community’s core values remain largely unchanged,” he observed, adding that this reality reinforces his commitment to staying engaged with the Ethereum community.
The remarks highlight a growing tension in the blockchain space between maintaining ethical standards and pursuing market share, as different platforms adopt varying approaches to application development and community governance.