Tron Founder Justin Sun Reflects on Historical Connections With Ripple and Vitalik Buterin
02/06/2024 20:08
Tron founder Justin Sun unveils intriguing past with Ripple and Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin
In a recent social media post, Justin Sun, the prominent figure behind the Tron blockchain ecosystem, delved into the intriguing history between himself, Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin and the blockchain-oriented cross-border money transfer company Ripple.
Sun reminisced about his past involvement with Ripple, revealing that he once secured a job at the company and spent a significant amount of time there. Conversely, he noted that Buterin's attempt to participate in Ripple's internship program was thwarted by visa complications, leading him to pursue other opportunities.
Reflecting on history is quite fascinating. Both @VitalikButerin and I have had interactions with @Ripple. Interestingly, I managed to secure a job at Ripple and worked there for quite a long time, while Vitalik ultimately did not participate in Ripple's internship due to visa…
— H.E. Justin Sun 孙宇晨 (@justinsuntron) February 6, 2024
This is not the first time the subject of Buterin's interaction with Ripple has surfaced. In a recent essay commemorating his 30th birthday, Buterin recounted his crypto journey, which included an intended internship at Ripple that was disrupted by visa issues. Despite this setback, Buterin's career trajectory eventually led him to cofound Ethereum.
However, tensions seem to be simmering between Ripple, the XRP community and Buterin. A rift emerged in 2020 when Buterin criticized Ripple following controversial remarks by Ripple cofounder Chris Larsen. The ongoing legal dispute between Ripple and the SEC has further strained relations, with Buterin suggesting that XRP's actions jeopardize its right to protection and implicating Ethereum in the process.
On the other hand, Sun's experience at Ripple served as a springboard for his career in the crypto industry. As Ripple's first employee in China, Sun garnered invaluable insights that fueled his entrepreneurial ambitions, ultimately leading to the creation of the Tron ecosystem.