As a researcher with a background in blockchain technology and a keen interest in the crypto space, I can’t help but share Vitalik Buterin’s perspective on the current meme coin craze. It’s clear that Buterin is disappointed by the recent trend of celebrities launching meme coins without any apparent public good or worthy cause behind them.


Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has voiced his displeasure over the trend of creating meme coins by celebrities during this cryptocurrency market boom.

The Canadian-Russian computer programmer expressed his view through a tweet that meme coin projects would be perceived as more noble and worthy of respect if they were linked to a public objective and worked towards improving certain causes.

Celebrity Meme Coin Craze

In recent weeks, notable figures such as Olympian and television personality Caitlyn Jenner, American hip-hop artists Rich The Kid and Iggy Azalea, and Nigerian music sensation Davido, have introduced meme coins into the market, hoping to cash in on the surging demand for cryptocurrencies.

Some investors have reaped significant profits following the release of meme coins, while others suffered extensive financial damage and lost their investments shortly after purchasing the tokens.

In simple terms, Jenner’s project, JENNER, encountered a wealthy Solana trader who suffered a loss of approximately $133,400 (equivalent to 785 SOL) in just one day due to trading the Book of Memes token. Furthermore, numerous investors in Davido’s DAVIDO tokens were left with losses after the musician sold off $474,000 worth of tokens shortly following their launch.

Buterin criticized the trend of celebrities utilizing meme coins for financial gain, arguing that they should be used to achieve noble goals such as healthcare and open-source software development instead. In his view, the Stoner Cats NFT collection launched by Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in 2021 was commendable because the proceeds went towards funding a worthwhile project – a show.

Launching Honorable Meme Coins

In my analysis of an article he penned down in March, Buterin emphasized several essential attributes for meme coins to gain recognition and respectability. He expressed that beyond generating wealth for early adopters and famous personalities, these projects could also serve a noble public purpose. This could be linked to a charitable cause close to the hearts of the celebrities or an intriguing art project.

Furthermore, they can be designed to endure for at least ten years and offer engaging mechanisms beyond simple trading. For instance, they could incorporate token voting in decentralized autonomous organizations.

“The ideal for a project, including those in the crypto space like Ethereum, is to ensure that the average participant is content with their involvement, even if the value of the tokens eventually reaches zero. This goal is commonly met by traditional businesses and charities. Setting this standard for our projects may seem basic, but it’s an essential aspect of creating successful endeavors.”

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2024-06-05 19:37