Vitalik Buterin Will Go to Prison — Rival Cardano Founder Argues

LUCKNOW (CoinChapter.com) — Vitalik Buterin can go to prison, according to Charles Hoskinson, founder of the Cardano blockchain. Hoskinson mocked CoinDesk’s annual “Most Influential” list in the crypto world. He posted on X that appearing on the list carries an 18% chance of later receiving a prison sentence.

The CoinDesk list aims to highlight the most impactful figures advancing the crypto and blockchain industry each year. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has topped the list four times. He first appeared in 2014 for his foundational work on smart contract blockchain technology. His remarkable track record surpasses that of several other notable individuals on the list. 

Balaji Srinivasan, the former Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase and the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, holds the distinction of making three appearances on CoinDesk’s ranking. 

Other recurring figures who made an appearance on the list twice include Andre Cronje, Andreas Antonopoulos, Brian Armstrong, Changpeng Zhao, Cynthia Lummis, Do Kwon, Gary Gensler, Gavin Andresen, Jack Dorsey, Jeremy Allaire, Jerome Powell, Pieter Wuille, and Sam Bankman-Fried.

The 18% Controversy Unraveled

The platform posed an open question on X about the likelihood of Buterin being on the influential list in 2023. In response, Hoskinson made a controversial comment. He wrote a “Fast Fact” that being on Coindesk’s influential list comes with an 18 percent chance of a prison sentence.

Hoskinson’s remark stems from the observation that certain prominent figures appearing on the list multiple times have encountered legal issues and imprisonment.  Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, CEO of crypto exchange Binance, appeared twice on the list. He recently agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines related to a money laundering investigation. Zhao now may face up to 10 years in prison for criminal charges.

Furthermore, the downturn of FTX and the subsequent arrest of its former CEO, Bankman-Fried, had a profound impact on the bearish market. Hoskinson’s remarks correlate with the fact that Bankman-Fried, featured twice on CoinDesk’s influential list, faced significant legal consequences. Do Kwon, the Founder of Terra Luna, also appeared on the list twice. He was accused of market manipulation and illegal trading practices, leading to a prison sentence.

Hoskinson used these outcomes to argue that, historically, appearing too much on CoinDesk’s “Most Influential” List carries a significant risk of later criminal prosecution.

Sarcastic Comments Made By Crypto Community

In response, certain members of the crypto community suggested that Charles Hoskinson might be envied due to his absence from the ranks of the most influential figures in crypto. Lex Blazer, a Crypto YouTuber, pointed out perceived bias from CoinDesk and questioned Cardano’s contributions to blockchain innovation.

Furthermore, Other users argued that Hoskinson might be deliberately overlooking Vitalik’s achievements. Some users talked about Vitalik’s status as the “greatest of all time (GOAT).” Hoskinson and the Ethereum community have had long-standing tensions, originating from Hoskinson’s removal from the Ethereum cycle years ago.