Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin criticised crypto communities that endorse any activity purely because it boosts prices.
Buterin said open systems should not automatically encourage risky or harmful behaviour.
He argued that Ethereum’s culture includes informal standards that discourage unsustainable projects.
Buterin linked the Terra Luna collapse to cultural failures rather than technology alone.
He said crypto is a high-variance space that attracts both serious builders and opportunistic actors.
“If you are too friendly, you don’t just attract builders, you also attract the worst profiles,”
Vitalik Buterin said.
Buterin warned that welcoming opportunists damages long-term credibility and builder interest.
He criticised bitcoin maximalists who celebrate powerful supporters without scrutinising their actions.
Buterin pointed to El Salvador’s bitcoin adoption as an example of fragile, top-down implementation.
He said forced adoption weakens trust when prices fall and public support erodes.
Buterin argued that sustainable crypto adoption must be voluntary rather than imposed.
He added that real usage failed to scale in El Salvador because persuasion was replaced by obligation.
At the time of reporting, Ethereum price was $2,883.41.