Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Concerned About Elon Musk’s Twitter Plan
Vitalik Buterin. Source: a video screenshot, Grand Amphi Théatre / YouTube
Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shared a scam-related concern over Tesla and Twitter chief Elon Musk's blue check system, but said that there may be a solution.
On November 1, following statements that a blue checkmark on Twitter for verified users could cost its owners $20 a month, Musk announced that it will be $8 after all. "Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit," he tweeted.
Buterin, however, commented on this announcement, specifically about the potential for scams. How well this new, Musk-developed system would work depends on "exactly how much due diligence is done" to ensure that those behind the blue checkmarks are indeed who they claim to be, he said in a tweet.
That said, there is a 'but'. Buterin followed his statement up with:
And while quite a few people suggested in the comments that paying $8 for the famed verified badge would be worth it for any scammer if that means gaining people's trust and being able to earn a lot more than the 'invested' $8 - others, similarly to Buterin, argued that this could be avoided with more verification.
Yet, it is somewhat ironic that crypto supporters and possibly decentralization supporters argue for more know-your-customer (KYC)-type measures.
Economic hierarchy?
"Power to the people" Blue for $8/month," said the new Twitter chief yesterday upon announcing the news.
But many people argued that it is not entirely clear how the power is given to the people who can't pay for it for whatever reason - or how it's supposed to empower users to protect their followers.
Buterin, however, disagreed, saying that the current system is "*far* more exclusive than even the $20/month level from yesterday."
He does not see it as creating any sort of an "economic hierarchy." Buterin added, however, that,
