A Viral Moment: Buterin and the Robot An brief clip of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin meowing at a robot has been whipping up a tempest on X.com . In the clip, Buterin kneels down, petting the head of the robot and saying a cat-like “meow” — which left most members of the crypto community scratching their heads, if not cringeworthy. While others viewed it as harmless whimsy, others called it “sad” and made fun of it with profanity-studded commentary. Memes rapidly filled up timelines, with some remaking the scene to look like something from a Studio Ghibli movie. Ether’s Price Slide Adds to the Noise The timing of the video was not proving beneficial. Ether (ETH) has declined nearly 55% from its high point in December 2024 of $4,000. ETH is currently trading at $1,833 at press time after dropping over 8% in the past week. Some are claiming Buterin’s focus elsewhere where it needs to be. Crypto personality “The Count of Monte Crypto” playfully poked fun at that ETH’s price was a bigger problem than Buterin’s antics — but others were less kind. Community Pushback and Criticism As soon as the video went public, Buterin attempted to divert the topic by posting about subsidizing public goods on Twitter. The crypto community had no patience for it. Some responses ranged from straightforward apathy (“NO ONE F–KING CARE[S]”) to open accusations of abandoning and selling out airdrops. It’s not the first time Buterin’s eccentricity has drawn flames. At TOKEN2049 in Singapore, his singing on-stage was followed by a “loser s—” comment from rapper Iggy Azalea. A Singular Voice in a Polarized Field Despite the criticism, Buterin is still against straightforward allegiances. He has openly criticized former SEC chairman Gary Gensler and warned of political tokens, thus tacitly rejecting Trump-sympathetic crypto projects. This distinguishes him from other crypto figures who have rallied behind Trump’s pro-crypto agenda. Buterin’s self-stated refusal to “bronze-aged mindsets” may alienate some but positions Ethereum on his own vision of decentralization. What’s Next for Ethereum? As the price of Ether drops and its co-founder turns into a meme, Ethereum’s near-term future is uncertain. Whether Buterin’s unorthodox presence will be a blessing or a curse to the brand will ultimately hinge on whether Ethereum can bounce back — both economically and in the eyes of its enthusiasts.
