News 
Coin Information 
About us 
Customer Service 
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sparked debate after criticizing American entrepreneur Peter Thiel in a recent social media post. In a sharp remark, Buterin reminded followers that Thiel is “not a cypherpunk,” highlighting the stark contrast between Thiel’s political philosophy and the foundational principles of crypto.
Thiel, known for his deep ties to Straussian philosophy, has long advocated for strong state structures, surveillance, and a Pax Americana supported by intelligence networks. His essay, The Straussian Moment, critiques Enlightenment liberalism and promotes ideas at odds with decentralization and privacy—values central to the cypherpunk ethos behind blockchain technology. While Thiel’s academic background at Stanford immersed him in the works of Leo Strauss through scholars such as Harry Jaffa and Allan Bloom, he also co-founded The Stanford Review, a conservative student paper influenced by Straussian thought. This philosophical grounding has often made him critical of democracy and supportive of centralized power.
Buterin’s concerns stem from the growing influence Thiel has in Ethereum’s ecosystem. Thiel holds significant stakes in BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), the largest corporate Ethereum holder, as well as ETHZilla, another prominent ETH treasury firm. While his backing provides financial support, many in the community worry it conflicts with Ethereum’s decentralization goals.
Buterin has emphasized that Ethereum leadership must be cautious about who they allow to shape the project’s future. He supports a “gradual ossification” process, meaning Ethereum will stabilize its technical framework after scaling and refinements, limiting the influence of powerful stakeholders pushing for major changes.
The clash between Buterin’s vision and Thiel’s ideology underscores a deeper struggle in the crypto industry: whether blockchain will remain true to its cypherpunk roots or drift toward centralized, institutional control.
Comment 0