In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, it’s hard to imagine a time when Ethereum wasn’t a household name. But if we were to rewind the clock and put ourselves in the shoes of Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, things might look a little different.

Back in 2013, when Buterin first proposed the idea of Ethereum, the crypto landscape was vastly different. The focus was on innovation and pushing the boundaries of what was possible with blockchain technology. But fast forward to today, and the scene has shifted. Now, it’s all about influencer-driven marketing and hype.

If Buterin were to start Ethereum today, he would face a significant challenge in raising funds. With the current state of the market, investors are more interested in flashy marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements than groundbreaking technology. This shift in focus has made it difficult for new projects to gain traction and secure the necessary funding to get off the ground.

Buterin’s vision for Ethereum was to create a decentralized platform that could support a wide range of applications and smart contracts. And while the project has certainly achieved that and more, it’s hard to say if it would have been as successful in today’s crypto climate.

Influencers and celebrities have become the new gatekeepers of the industry, with their endorsements and social media presence holding significant weight in the eyes of investors. This has led to a saturation of projects vying for attention and funding, making it even harder for truly innovative ideas to stand out.

But despite these challenges, Ethereum has proven to be a resilient and groundbreaking project. It has paved the way for countless other blockchain platforms and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of decentralized finance. And while the focus may have shifted, Buterin’s vision and determination have remained steadfast, solidifying Ethereum’s place as a leader in the crypto space.