Why Did Vitalik Buterin Get 50% of Shiba Inu? Is He The Founder?

The Shiba Inu (SHIB) team made a historic move after the token’s launch in August 2020 by sending Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin half of the project’s entire supply. Buterin is one of the most recognized figures in the crypto industry. Sending him half the supply was a move that garnered substantial trust among crypto enthusiasts. However, Buterin did not hold on to the coins he received. Instead, he burned 90% of the SHIB he received and donated the rest to charity. His actions led to a massive dip in supply, which consequently led to a big price rally. However, many still wonder why the SHIB team decided to send Buterin half of the supply upon launch. Is Buterin a secret founder of Shiba Inu (SHIB)? Let’s discuss.

Is Vitalik Buterin a Secret Founder of Shiba Inu?

Shiba Inu (SHIB) was created by an anonymous figure known only as Ryoshi. When Buterin received half of SHIB’s supply, there was a lot of talk about whether he was the man behind Ryoshi. However, there is no concrete evidence to prove that Buterin is indeed behind Shiba Inu’s creation.

One reason for sending Buterin half of the entire Shiba Inu (SHIB) supply could be to generate buzz while building trust among investors. Buterin commands substantial clout in the crypto space. Having his name associated with the project may have led to the initial popularity spike for Shiba Inu (SHIB). The decision to send Buterin half the supply was a historic PR move, whether that was the intention or not.

Moreover, Shiba Inu (SHIB) is based on the Ethereum network. Although the project launched its layer-2 Shibarium network in 2023, at its core, SHIB is still an ERC-20 token. Sending Buterin half the supply may have been a way to strengthen Shiba Inu’s relationship with the Ethereum team.