May 13, 2021

Russian-Canadian Now 27-Year-Old Billionaire


Russian-Canadian Now 27-Year-Old Billionaire
The world's cutest crypto billionaire, Vitalik Buterin. Wikimedia Commons user Romanpoet

The founder of Ethereum, the second cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, just became the world's youngest crypto billionaire at twenty-seven. He is a Russian-born Canadian, sporting the cute name Vitalik Buterin and looking about as cute as Soviet cartoon hero Cheburashka.

Buterin does not pull in a huge salary as Ethereum founder; rather, he held onto 333,500 Ethers when he started the cryptocurrency, each of which is now worth $3,500. That is enough to put him just above the $1 billion mark as of early May 2021.

Born and raised to age six in Kolomna, Russia, Buterin attended the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, but he dropped out. He was encouraged to drop out by being awarded a Thiel Fellowship: "$100,000 to young people who want to build new things instead of sitting in a classroom." Nailed it.

The total value of what Vitalik built (all Ethers in circulation) is $403 billion as of early May.

Although Bitcoin is the more popular cryptocurrency, its founder is unknown, referred to as Satoshi Nakamoto. Thus, it is fair to say that Vitalik is the face of global cryptocurrency since Satoshi doesn't have a face.

For one of the world's most talented programmers, Buterin has a hilariously simple personal website, at https://vitalik.ca/.

You Might Also Like

Hacking into the Mainframe
  • May 11, 2021

Hacking into the Mainframe

Don your fingerless gloves, put on your dark sunglasses, and grab your trusty black Anonymous hoodie: a new study reveals Russians are just as sloppy with their internet security as the rest of us.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955