Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin called the “bitcoin maximalists” for their indifference to President Nayib Bukele’s efforts to make the token a currency of daily use in El Salvador.
The 27-year-old crypto billionaire has criticized bitcoin enthusiasts that the Salvadoran leader, in comments suggesting he doesn’t think Bukele’s enthusiasm for the app deserves to be applauded.
“Shame (okay, I’ll call the main culprits: shame on Bitcoin maximalists) who praise you unscrupulously,” Buterin said in reaction to a Reddit article on Friday.
Buterin opposed those measures, alluding to the concept of cryptocurrencies as the government’s popular domain in the community.
“Making it mandatory for businesses to settle for an express cryptocurrency is contrary to the ideals of freedom that are intended to be so for the crypto space,” Buterin said.
“In addition, this tactic of bringing BTC to millions of other people in El Salvador at the same time with almost no prior attempt at schooling is reckless and risks hacking or defrauding large numbers of innocent people. “
One Redditor speculated that Bukele bought bitcoins when he was cheaper, hoping to make a profit, as national adoption would skyrocket in value, but Buterin dismissed this theory as a “simpler and stupider hypothesis. “
“Bitcoin maximalists are a very simple network to congratulate you : you just want to be in a position of strength and do or say beautiful things about them and their currency. “
Another Redditor asked if Buterin would have brought the same technique to Ethereum maximalists, if Bukele had chosen to give legal tender to bitcoin ether. The crypto co-founder responded with examples of cases where he had criticized the use of Ethereum, with at least 3 other instances.
Bitcoin was last traded 2% at $56,440 consistent with the currency on Monday, and is up 94% so far this year, according to CoinDesk’s knowledge.
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