He Is Not Just Vitalik – He Is Dr. Buterin Now

The University of Basel has awarded an Honorary Doctorate to Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin for his contributions to the blockchain industry.

A blockchain developer Vitalik Buterin, best-known as Co-Founder of Ethereum, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Basel in Switzerland. The doctoral degree was granted to Buterin from the Faculty of Business and Economics on November 30, during the annual Dies Academicus ceremony that the University hosts to pay tribute to prominent individuals from different walks of life for their contribution in science and society.

The 24-year-old Russian-Canadian programmer was awarded the doctoral degree by the almost 560-year-old Swiss University for his “outstanding achievements in fields of cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and the design of institutions,” an announcement published on the University’s official Twitter account explained.

It’s not a big surprise that Buterin received the recognition of the oldest Swiss University at such a young age, since he had been described as a wonder child since he was a kid when he studied in a class for gifted children. He wrote his revolutionary white paper for Ethereum even before he was 20.

Soon after he published it, in 2014, he received the World Technology Award in the ‘IT Software’ category leaving behind Mark Zuckerberg. By 24, Buterin has risen to international fame as one of the creators of Ethereum, one of the world’s major cryptocurrencies and public blockchain platform promoting decentralized applications.

His constant promotion of the idea of decentralization was also highlighted by the University of Basel in a statement published on the University’s official website.

"He received the honor in recognition of his contribution to promoting decentralization and equal rights of participation in the digital revolution, as well as for his achievements in relation to cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and institutional design,” the announcement says.

It goes on, adding specifically that Buterin came up with his game-changing innovations “without an academic degree or ties to a university”.

For years, Ethereum had managed to remain the world’s second largest cryptocurrency by market cap and was only behind Bitcoin itself. Only recently, it had to step aside giving way to Ripple. Meanwhile, Buterin is currently working on an upgrade to the upcoming Ethereum 2.0 network.