Vitalik Buterin confident AI won’t break crypto, stakes 90% of net worth

Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin rejected a claim that artificial intelligence could cause Bitcoin to lose more than half its value within two years. He argued that the core security of Bitcoin and Ethereum is likely to withstand AI‑driven attacks and noted that his own crypto holdings already represent roughly 90 % of his net worth, effectively making his position a bet on the outcome.

Debate over AI‑driven risk

Silicon Valley investor Liron Shapiro warned of a 50 % probability that Bitcoin could fall over 50 % in the next two years, citing AI’s ability to undermine perceived security guarantees. Buterin countered that most AI‑related security failures are fixable and that defenders will benefit from the same technological advances attackers use.

Recent AI‑assisted incidents

In August, Bitcoin swap provider Boltz halted its service after AI‑assisted probing uncovered multiple exploits that outpaced the team’s ability to patch them. Although Boltz’s non‑custodial design protected user funds, the company incurred losses and suspended operations, illustrating how AI can pressure surrounding infrastructure without breaking Bitcoin’s proof‑of‑work.

Industry response

Security firms and major tech companies are accelerating defensive AI development. Anthropic restricted access to its Claude Mythos model and launched Project Glasswing, directing AI capabilities toward vulnerability detection for firms such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, and JPMorgan Chase. Over 100 organizations, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, have signed an open letter urging governments and companies to prepare for a surge in AI‑enabled cyberattacks.

Key disagreement

The core of the dispute is whether AI‑driven attacks will remain manageable through upgrades and stronger defenses, as Buterin expects, or become severe enough to erode the security assumptions underlying Bitcoin’s valuation.