Ethereum
Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Visits Waterloo | Waterloo News
On Saturday, July 6, nearly two hundred students gathered for an “ask me anything” event with Vitalik Buterin, co-creator of the Ethereum blockchain and University of Waterloo alumnus.
Buterin studied computer science at Waterloo and worked as a research assistant for cryptographer and computer science professor Ian Goldberg. In 2013, he wrote a white paper proposing Ethereum. Buterin received a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship grant in 2014 and later left Waterloo to work full-time on Ethereum. Today, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin in terms of market capitalization.
In his talk, Buterin discussed the mathematics behind blockchain, areas of innovation, and the future of cryptocurrencies. “Will cryptocurrencies become the Esperanto of finance, the Linux of finance, or the Internet of finance?” he asked rhetorically. “I think it depends: there are many countries, especially in developing countries, where there is a high demand for cryptocurrencies because the traditional banking system is not efficient.”
Buterin also distinguished between early-stage technologies (like cryptocurrencies, AI, and space travel) and later-stage technologies (like pharmaceuticals), saying that early-stage technologies are an ideal space for ambitious thinking, innovation, and the use of pure math, engineering, and science. “There’s a real appetite right now to create amazing things,” he said.
“We were incredibly lucky to have Vitalik in town to talk about Ethereum and its future roadmap,” said Monica Tsang, a Master of Systems Design Engineering student. “He encouraged us to work on the optimistic and idealistic side of blockchain development instead of chasing easy money. Being a jack of all trades will help us quickly gain new knowledge in this ever-changing blockchain space!”
Buterin stressed the importance of shared values in tech companies, both for practical and ethical reasons. “Make sure that you and your co-founders share the same values, both in terms of what you want to accomplish in the world and what you want to get out of the project,” he said. “Think about what kind of relationship you want to have with each other, with your investors, with your users, and with your community.”
Buterin’s talk was the finale of a four-day workshop series, “Solidity 101 Bootcamp,” sponsored by From Ethereum University, VentureMiner and the Faculty of Mathematics. The bootcamp was billed as a comprehensive educational program designed to empower the next generation of blockchain developers.
“It was a real pleasure to host Vitalik Buterin,” said Stephanie Whitney, director of research and innovation partnerships at the Math Innovation Office. “The audience was blown away by his thoughtful presentation of how we can contribute to the blockchain ecosystem. We can’t thank him and the Ethereum Foundation enough for this incredible opportunity.”
You can learn more about Ethereum on the Ethereum Foundation Website. You can learn more about Math Innovation’s Entrepreneurship and Impact series, including future visitors, on the Website on mathematical innovation.