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As the race for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics heats up, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has emerged as an unexpected dark horse. Renowned economists Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok recently discussed their predictions on the Marginal Revolution podcast, with Cowen highlighting Buterin as a “non-traditional” candidate due to his significant contributions to monetary economics.
Cowen praised Buterin for not just theorizing but actually implementing innovative economic concepts through the Ethereum platform. He noted, “Vitalik built a platform, created a currency, and effectively challenged Mises’ regression theorem.” Tabarrok echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Buterin’s ongoing influence in the evolution of Ethereum, particularly his pivotal role in transitioning from a proof-of-work to a proof-of-stake mechanism. He likened this transformative process to “changing car tires while the car is moving.”
Both economists recognized Buterin as an intellectual figure within the cryptocurrency space, embodying the ideals of innovation and cooperation. While acknowledging that the anonymous Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto also deserves recognition, they argued that Buterin’s tangible contributions set him apart.
As the cryptocurrency community buzzes with speculation, the Nobel Prize winner(s) will be revealed on October 14. Buterin’s candidacy could signal a broader acceptance of cryptocurrency’s impact on economic theory and practice.