Who Is Vitalik Buterin?

There are few people in crypto more influential than Vitalik Buterin. Involved in the industry since 2011, Buterin came up with the idea for Ethereum (ETH 2.87%), the second-largest cryptocurrency. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he co-founded it by the age of 19.

For anyone interested in crypto, and especially crypto investors, Buterin is one of the important figures to learn about. In this guide, we’ll cover his career so far, his portfolio, and his advice on crypto investing.

Who is Vitalik Buterin?

Who is Vitalik Buterin?

Vitalik Buterin was born in Kolomna, Russia, but his family moved to Canada when he was six. When he was in third grade, he was put into a program for gifted students. He showed a natural aptitude for math and programming, and he also enjoyed learning about economics.

His father, Dmitry, introduced him to cryptocurrency by teaching him about Bitcoin when he was 17. While Vitalik was initially unsure how a currency could have value without physical backing, he soon became a believer. He started writing for Bitcoin Weekly in 2011. When it ceased production, he co-founded Bitcoin Magazine later that year.

Buterin decided to drop out of university to focus on writing, traveling, meeting with developers, and learning about crypto projects. This period of his life would prove instrumental in the creation of Ethereum. Buterin first described Ethereum in a white paper that he published in late 2013. Development began in 2014, and it launched on July 30, 2015.

Until then, cryptocurrencies had been designed strictly as digital currencies that operated on blockchains. Ethereum was unique in that its blockchain could also run smart contracts (contracts that self-execute when certain conditions are met). This gave Ethereum all kinds of potential uses, including:

• Decentralized apps (dApps): Apps that run on a blockchain network.
• Decentralized finance (DeFi): Decentralized versions of financial services, such as bank accounts.
• Non-fungible tokens (NFTs): Ownership certificates for digital assets built into the blockchain.

Ethereum became the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Its success made Buterin crypto’s youngest billionaire at one point (although its volatility later took away that billionaire title).

Buterin is part of the Ethereum Foundation, and he’s still heavily involved in the cryptocurrency’s development. In recent years, he has been looking at ways blockchain technology could help with sociopolitical issues, such as housing and city building. He’s also interested in longevity research.

Due to his success, Buterin is one of the most influential people in the world of cryptocurrency. He has even been referred to as the "prince of crypto." However, he isn’t the type to promote himself. He prefers to focus on research and the technology behind crypto.

Vitalik Buterin’s Personal Stats

Vitalik Buterin’s Personal Stats

• Age: He was born on Jan. 31, 1994.
• Source of wealth: He founded Ethereum.
• Marital status: Single.
• Residence: Digital nomad.
• Children: None.
• Education: University of Waterloo.

Vitalik Buterin’s investment approach

Vitalik Buterin’s investment approach

Vitalik Buterin focuses almost exclusively on the crypto space, and his success hasn’t come from investing in it but from founding Ethereum. He has made some other crypto investments here and there; when successful, he often donates the proceeds. For example, he said he once bought $25,000 of Dogecoin, which was later worth $4.3 million, but he then donated the profits.

Buterin has shared advice on crypto investing and his own investment approach over the years. Here’s what he does and recommends:

• Focus on the tech instead of the price. Buterin says to avoid the trading groups that focus on price movements and spend time learning about the technology behind different cryptocurrencies. That will give you a better understanding of cryptocurrency and help you figure out which ones have legitimate uses.
• Buy and hold. Buterin has said that this is his approach and that he doesn’t speculate. Whether it’s crypto or stocks, a buy-and-hold strategy over the long term is safer.
• Don’t fall for lofty claims. There are lots of cryptocurrency scams out there. As Buterin explains it, investors often do far too many mental gymnastics to defend things that are obvious scams or won’t work, such as cryptos offering a 20% return on your money.

Vitalik Buterin’s investments

Vitalik Buterin’s investments

Vitalik Buterin doesn’t appear to have a diversified portfolio, if previous statements and his crypto wallet data are any indications. He has previously said that Ethereum makes up more than 90% of his crypto holdings. Other cryptocurrencies that he has invested in over the years include:

• Bitcoin.
• Dogecoin.
• Bitcoin Cash.
• Zcash.
• Maker.

Buterin has also done some angel investing. In a post on Reddit, he said he had significant corporate shareholdings in Clearmatics and Starkware, two blockchain companies.

Due to his high-profile position in the crypto industry, Buterin has occasionally been sent free crypto tokens by new projects. One of the most notable examples came when the founders of Shiba Inu sent him half of that meme token’s supply in a marketing stunt. Buterin burned (eliminated) 90% of those tokens and donated the rest.

More from Vitalik Buterin

More from Vitalik Buterin

Vitalik Buterin is active on Twitter and Reddit. He also has a website where he writes on cryptocurrency and occasionally other subjects, such as travel. Here’s where you can follow him:

• Twitter: @VitalikButerin
• Reddit: u/vbuterin
• Website: vitalik.ca

A collection of essays by Buterin has also been published. Proof of Stake: The Making of Ethereum and the Philosophy of Blockchains includes essays from 2014 to 2022. The content is advanced, so the book is mainly for those who have ample cryptocurrency knowledge and want to get insights into Buterin and his thought process.

What crypto investors can learn from Vitalik Buterin

What crypto investors can learn from Vitalik Buterin

Unlike many of the famous investors in the world, Vitalik Buterin didn’t make his fortune from savvy trades. He built it through years of hard work and research, leading to an innovative blockchain network with capabilities that hadn’t been seen before.

If there’s one important lesson for crypto investors to learn from Buterin’s success, it’s that the technology and uses for a project are ultimately what matter. Many investors get into crypto to make a quick buck and end up falling for the hype of lackluster projects.

Crypto is a volatile industry. Buterin has seen his net worth fluctuate significantly because of Ethereum’s volatility. If you are going to invest in crypto, only make it a small portion of your portfolio, and don’t invest more than you could afford to lose. It also helps to take an analytical, research-driven approach. Spend some time learning about different cryptos, their tech, and what they plan to do so you can make a more informed decision on what to buy.

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