Vitalik Buterin Calls Crypto Folks to Join Non-Crypto Tech

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called on the blockchain industry to increase adoption by participating in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity events.

In a tweet that sparked significant debate within the crypto community, Buterin made it clear that the blockchain industry must be opened up. Additionally, in response to a topic regarding what events PrivacyScaling should attend in 2025, he suggested that the first important step is to actively participate in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity conferences. Doing so can also increase acceptance by participating in mainstream cryptography and cybersecurity events. Build bridges with social media platforms like Mastodon and non-blockchain decentralization projects like the Secure Scuttlebutt database protocol.

IMO the fact that mainstream cryptography, cybersecurity, and non-blockchain decentralization are considered “non-crypto” is itself a failure (imo largely by “crypto”) and it’s worth taking steps to solve this problem😊

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

Buterin’s action highlights a pressing concern: the crypto industry’s tendency to seal itself into a bubble. By only attending blockchain-focused events, the community is becoming insular and crowding out opportunities to cross-exchange ideas with experts in other fields.

“Classifying common cryptography and decentralization initiatives as ‘non-crypto’ is a massive failure,” Buterin tweeted. He added that this failure was largely due to the crypto industry and emphasized the need for urgent action in this regard.

Another X member, Devansh Mehta, also said that there should be programs like the Ethereum Foundation Scholars Program to encourage participation in non-crypto events. In his tweets, he stated that narrow-minded debates must be urgently overcome and the crypto world must start establishing areas of connection with communities outside of blockchain. This exchange will not only enable the crypto industry to gain more knowledge, but will also help spread blockchain knowledge for technology skeptics in different fields. Strengthening these relationships can result in a unified strategy to tackle global challenges such as data protection, digital sovereignty and decentralization.

Long defended the leadership of the EF scholars program. @_madison_adams We need to start supporting our participation in non-crypto events, not just the ones we fool around with among ourselves

— Devansh Mehta (@TheDevanshMehta) January 6, 2025

close the gap

Getting out of the “crypto bubble” has its own challenges. Shaw, co-founder of ai16z, said on the Delphi Digital podcast that decentralized funding and market intelligence will combine to create the most sustainable source of transformative potential in the crypto space. “The market is a form of intelligence, identifying opportunities, applying capital and optimizing for the best version of things,” Shaw comments. He adds: “The real problem with crypto is that people have that emotional tone but fail to deliver on it.” His vision aligns with Vitalik Buterin’s call for crypto to innovate alongside areas beyond crypto.

The industry will need to overcome preconceived notions and misunderstandings on both sides. While mainstream technologists often view blockchain startups as too speculative or financially focused, crypto people can also ignore information outside their field of interest. However, its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages.