Former Ethereum advisor Steven Nerayoff, known for his deep views on the blockchain world, shed light on long-standing speculations regarding Vitalik Buterin’s historical connection to Ripple and its native cryptocurrency XRP in a recent statement. The cryptocurrency community has long pondered whether Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum (ETH) and one of the most influential figures in the crypto space, has a genuine interest in Ripple. Nerayoff’s revelations have reopened the debate by providing intriguing insight into Buterin’s past. Here are the details…
ETH and Ripple saga: What happened?
As Kriptokoin.com reported, the saga began when Ripple’s former director of developer relations, Matt Hamilton, sparked curiosity when he revealed that Buterin was interested in an internship opportunity at Ripple and even spent time on the couch of the company’s CTO, David Schwartz. These revelations have led many to wonder about the extent of Buterin’s involvement with Ripple.
No idea. He told me he wanted to implement smart contracts on Bitcoin but the devs didn’t want it. I spoke to him about Ripple but that was bc I had met the Ripple folks and used them as an example of how a company should be operated in this space. Ripple has been following me…
— Steven Nerayoff (@StevenNerayoff) September 23, 2023
Nerayoff, who had meetings with Buterin during his time as an Ethereum advisor, shared some valuable insight into the Ethereum co-founder’s thought process. According to Nerayoff, Buterin once expressed a desire to implement smart contracts on the Bitcoin network. However, this request met with resistance from Bitcoin developers, leading Buterin to explore other Blockchain projects.
Buterin talked about the company
Regarding Ripple, Nerayoff explained that his conversations with Buterin about the company stemmed from his interactions with Ripple representatives, whom he saw as examples of effective operational practices in the Blockchain industry. Nerayoff also recalled an incident at a conference he attended in 2015, where he encountered Ripple co-founder Chris Larson and another member of the Ripple team. What caught his attention was that questions about Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, XRP, were directed to a specific person within the organization, sparking further curiosity.
Did @VitalikButerin really want to work for @Ripple @StevenNerayoff ? Or was he sent?
— Digital Asset Investor.XRP (@digitalassetbuy) September 23, 2023
Nerayoff’s views have reignited debate about Vitalik Buterin’s true interests and intentions during his interactions with Ripple. The question that continues to fascinate the crypto community is whether Ethereum’s visionary founder is truly interested in Ripple and XRP or whether there are more complex factors behind the scenes. While these explanations do not provide a definitive answer to the mystery, they certainly add depth to the narrative of Vitalik Buterin’s journey in the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. As the blockchain industry evolves, the stories, ambitions, and interactions of its key players remain an intriguing topic for enthusiasts and observers alike. The quest to understand the underlying motivations and connections in this rapidly evolving field continues, reminding us that the crypto world is as complex as it is innovative.
