Introduction
The story of Ethereum's creation is one of the most intriguing tales in cryptocurrency history. What began as a collaborative effort among 8 founders eventually evolved into a project led primarily by Vitalik Buterin. But who were these founders, and what roles did they play? Let’s dive into Ethereum’s origins.
Who Created Ethereum?
Ethereum wasn’t the brainchild of a single person. In its early days (2013–2014), it was developed by a diverse group of 8 co-founders, each contributing unique expertise:
- Vitalik Buterin (Concept & White Paper)
- Mihai Alisie (Business Infrastructure)
- Anthony Di Iorio (Funding & Community)
- Amir Chetrit (Colored Coins Project)
- Charles Hoskinson (Business Strategy)
- Gavin Wood (Technical Implementation)
- Jeffrey Wilcke (Go Ethereum Developer)
- Joseph Lubin (Consensys Founder)
The Founders and Their Roles
1. Vitalik Buterin
- Published the Ethereum White Paper (2013) at age 19.
- Envisioned Ethereum as a "world computer" for decentralized apps.
2. Mihai Alisie
- Co-founded Bitcoin Magazine with Vitalik.
- Handled legal frameworks and business infrastructure.
3. Anthony Di Iorio
- Organized the Toronto Bitcoin Meetup Group.
- Secured early funding and connections.
4. Amir Chetrit
- Worked on Colored Coins (early NFTs).
- Preferred privacy, left quietly post-launch.
5. Charles Hoskinson
- Advocated for a for-profit model.
- Later founded Cardano (ADA).
6. Gavin Wood
- Wrote the Ethereum Yellow Paper.
- Created Solidity (Ethereum’s programming language).
- Founded Polkadot.
7. Jeffrey Wilcke
- Developed Go Ethereum.
- Shifted to video game development post-Ethereum.
8. Joseph Lubin
- Founded Consensys, an Ethereum incubator.
- Focused on enterprise blockchain solutions.
Key Events in Ethereum’s Early Days
2014: The Miami Bitcoin Conference
- Ethereum’s first public presentation.
- Positive reception from the crypto community.
The Switzerland Convergence
- Debate: For-profit (VC funding) vs. non-profit (crowdsale).
- Vitalik chose the non-profit path, leading to departures.
Aftermath
- Hoskinson (Cardano) and Wood (Polkadot) launched rival blockchains.
- Lubin built Consensys, Wilcke left for gaming.
- Only Vitalik remained as Ethereum’s public face.
What Happened to the Founders?
| Founder | Current Project | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vitalik Buterin | Ethereum 2.0 | Active |
| Charles Hoskinson | Cardano (ADA) | Active |
| Gavin Wood | Polkadot (DOT) | Active |
| Joseph Lubin | Consensys | Active |
| Jeffrey Wilcke | Video Games | Left Crypto |
| Amir Chetrit | Unknown | Private |
| Anthony Di Iorio | Decentral (Jaxx Wallet) | Reduced Involvement |
| Mihai Alisie | Akasha Network | Semi-Active |
FAQ
Q: Why did so many founders leave Ethereum?
A: Disagreements over governance (profit vs. non-profit) and centralization led to splits.
Q: Is Ethereum still decentralized?
A: Yes, but it’s largely developer-driven with Vitalik as the de facto leader.
Q: Who owns Ethereum now?
A: No single entity—it’s managed by the Ethereum Foundation and community developers.
Conclusion
Ethereum’s journey from 8 co-founders to a Vitalik-led project highlights the challenges of decentralized collaboration. Yet, its founders’ legacies live on in Cardano, Polkadot, and Consensys.
👉 Explore more blockchain stories
Fun fact: Ethereum’s 2014 crowdsale raised $18 million**—now worth over **$300 billion!
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