Ethereum's founder faces criticism over his leadership of project

Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, faces criticism over his stewardship of the project. He appears to be faltering on key commitments. Developers have been fleeing, community backlashes, and the network's token is underperforming Bitcoin in liquidity, Bloomberg reports.

Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency, with all its tokens worth about $225 billion. However, its price has dropped nearly 44% in 2025, the biggest decline since 2022, according to the agency.

A December report from Electric Capital shows that active developers working on Ethereum's software dropped by around 17% last year. Meanwhile, Solana has become one of the top crypto ecosystems for developers in 2024, with 83% year-over-year growth.

This month, Standard Chartered slashed its Ethereum price forecast by 60%, citing weakening demand for the token in the cryptocurrency market.

Buterin advises patience, cautioning against expectations of quick results. He emphasizes that Ethereum's true value should be measured long-term through its sustainability and real-world adoption.