Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin is facing growing scrutiny for links between himself, the Ethereum Foundation, and the massive $450 million Gatecoin hack in 2016. The controversy was first sparked by an on-chain investigation by TruthLabs (@BoringSleuth) and amplified by Ethereum whistleblower Steven Nerayoff. , which has now enlisted award-winning Maltese journalist and historian Mark Camilleri to amplify Buterin’s call for clarity.
Pressure on Ethereum Mounts Buterin via Gatecoin Hack Link
These claims surfaced when @BoringSleuth made an on-chain connection indicating the Ethereum Foundation’s possible involvement in the Gatecoin hack. Mark Camilleri, known for his anti-censorship advocacy and his time as chairman of Malta’s National Book Council, has taken an active stance in demanding clarity from Buterin.
Camilleri, through a series of operations, post X (formerly Twitter) and other direct communication channels (email and WhatsApp) asked Buterin for answers about specific transactions linked to the hack (Etherscan). He asked Buterin a direct question.
Good morning Vitalik Buterin, @BoringSleuth is making very serious accusations about the connection between the Ethereum Foundation and the Gatecoin hack, mainly through this transaction. I believe this is a serious accusation that requires the ability to deny or explain any connection between the Ethereum Foundation and this address.
Despite these efforts, Buterin, who turned 30 yesterday and is said to be living in Montenegro, a country with which the United States has no extradition treaty, has remained silent. This silence is increasingly evident given the seriousness of the allegations.
In a follow-up post, Camilleri responded to Buterin’s silence: “I think your lack of an answer is the same as ‘no comment’ because you don’t want to answer my question. “It does not bode well that there is blockchain evidence linking the Ethereum Foundation to the €450 million Gatecoin hack.”
He continued, “You also read the message I sent you on WhatsApp, so it is your choice not to reply. Maybe we need to revise our priorities.”
“The problem with this story is that it is not a simple claim because the history of blockchain is very clear,” Camilleri said in a blog post. “The refusal to answer is itself an answer, and unfortunately the specific evidence in this story makes the refusal to answer seem very questionable.”
Response from Nerayoff and TruthLabs
Steven Nerayoff is currently preparing a fraud lawsuit against Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation. highlighted The importance of Camilleri’s question. “Will Vitalik respond to reporters about the Gatecoin hack? Mark Camilleri, a very trustworthy reporter, asked Vitalik about @BoringSleuth’s very serious claims about X. Vitalik insists on complete transparency. If he is innocent, he must answer, unless the legal profession tells him to remain silent,” Nerayoff said.
TruthLabs, the entity behind the initial claims, has been vocal about the current evidence. In a public statement they said, “This is evidence that Vitalik has read and is aware of the Gatecoin hacking allegations and evidence. The evidence is very clear. @VitalikButerin @Ethereum Foundation @Joe Lubin stole $450 million from ETH or knew who did it while funding his wallet. They knew about the exploit when it happened. “They didn’t do anything, so anyone would have any reason to think they were involved.”
This debate strikes at the heart of cryptocurrency’s ethos of transparency and accountability. Buterin’s silence so far stands in stark contrast to these principles. The lack of response from a pivotal figure like Buterin not only raises questions about specific incidents, but also casts a shadow over the credibility of the Ethereum Foundation.
At press time, ETH was trading at $2,274.
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