Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO of crypto market maker Wintermute, has recently voiced concerns about Ethereum’s (ETH) leadership.

According to Gaevoy, Ethereum’s potential downfall will not be due to technical shortcomings compared to competitors like Solana but from contradictions within its leadership.

Wintermute CEO Highlights Leadership Paradox in Ethereum

Gaevoy criticizes Ethereum’s leadership, particularly the network’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin, for their contradictory stance on capitalism and social justice. He believes Ethereum’s failure will stem from these conflicting goals rather than technical issues.

“If ETH fails in the future, it won’t be because ‘Solana is faster,’ it will be because the ETH ‘elite’ is still stuck in a massive contradiction,” he wrote on his X (Twitter) account.

Read more: Solana vs. Ethereum: An Ultimate Comparison

Gaevoy asserts that blockchain technology fosters capitalist systems. Yet leaders like Buterin and Hayden Adams, co-founders of the Ethereum-based decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap, try to solve capitalism by insisting on worthy societal ends.

He believes one cannot build both a capitalist and a planned socialist system. Gaevoy prefers capitalism for its efficacy compared to socialism.

Gaevoy’s critique comes amid a broader debate sparked by Buterin’s criticism of celebrity meme coins. Buterin emphasizes that crypto projects should serve broader societal goals beyond monetization. This prompted a response from Australian singer Iggy Azalea, who launched her meme coin—Mother Iggy (MOTHER).

During a podcast, Azalea questioned Buterin’s stance on gas fees. Her remarks, showing a misunderstanding of Ethereum’s gas fees, went viral and drew ridicule from the crypto community.

The debate escalated further when Adams joined the fray. He criticized Azalea for mocking Buterin instead of constructively addressing her concerns.

Gaevoy’s comments have stirred controversy within the crypto community. While some agree with his perspective, many disagree. One community member responded to Gaevoy by pointing out that Buterin and Adams merely expressed their vision for crypto, which does not necessarily conflict with capitalist principles.

The member suggested their critiques were more about ensuring long-term sustainability and progress within the crypto space. In response to the backlash, Gaevoy offered a clarifying statement.

“To me, it’s about the primary guiding principle. If your key guiding principle is capitalism, and then you make extra steps to make it less damaging, I’m all for it. If your guiding principle is, I don’t know, ‘social justice’ or ‘only good things should be built,’ and then you attach capitalism as an afterthought, that’s what I am against,” he stated.

Read more: When Are Ethereum Gas Fees Lowest?

Nonetheless, Gaevoy’s criticism highlights the challenges ahead for Ethereum’s leaders. As Ethereum continues to evolve, the balance between economic incentives and social goals will likely remain contentious.