Buterin emphasises Ethereum's ethics over casino crypto

Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has criticised what he sees as a "moral reversal" in the cryptocurrency industry, particularly regarding complaints that Ethereum is not welcoming enough to blockchain casinos.

Buterin voiced his concerns during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Feb. 20, expressing disappointment with the negative feedback Ethereum has received for not embracing blockchain-based casinos.

He stated that he might leave the blockchain space if ethical considerations continue to be overshadowed by the acceptance of platforms that favor casinos.

Buterin pointed out that some critics view Ethereum as "bad and intolerant" for not supporting blockchain casinos, while other chains are praised for being more open to any application.

He has previously argued that crypto casinos primarily benefit a small percentage of users.

Despite online criticisms, Buterin mentioned that in-person interactions with community members have reassured him that Ethereum's core values remain strong.

He emphasised his commitment to the Ethereum community, saying he has a responsibility to not abandon it.

Buterin also suggested that the Ethereum Foundation may become less neutral in supporting projects at the application layer, potentially favoring initiatives that align with Ethereum’s core mission and values.

His comments come as Ethereum faces competition from other blockchains, such as Solana (CRYPTO:SOL), which have embraced memecoins and gaming applications.

These remarks follow changes in the Ethereum Foundation’s funding approach.

On Feb. 13, the foundation responded to community concerns by deploying 45,000 ETH, worth $120 million, into DeFi platforms Aave (CRYPTO:AAVE), Spark (CRYPTO:SPK), and Compound (CRYPTO:COMP).

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum (ETH) price was $2,737.02.