The Infinite Machine

by Camila Russo

“Gavin, we cannot continue in this manner, paying you and all your employees, having you keep your full title and, in essence, bootstrap a for-profit entity that’s separate from the foundation,” Ming would say over several Skype conversations. “We had an agreement with Vitalik that I would retain an unpaid position in the foundation to consult on platform architecture and lead development for the C++ client,” Gavin said. “He should honor it.” “I just can’t do it, Gav,” Ming insisted. “Please, try to understand. I support you and your new venture; I think you’ll be hugely successful and maybe even more valuable to the community that way. But you can’t do it and stay at the foundation at the same time.” “I’ve done more than anyone, maybe even more than Vitalik, for Ethereum. I basically built it from the ground up,” he said. “And you’re kicking me out of the foundation? Does that seem right?” “We’re not kicking you out. I would like to give you the opportunity to frame your departure your own way,” Ming pleaded. “You write the announcement.” “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Gavin tried to get Vitalik to intervene, but his emails and messages went unanswered. In the end, he accepted he was no longer part of the organization he helped build. Yes, he was angry, but mostly he was sad. Ethereum had been his life for the past three years. It also made him sad that Vitalik hadn’t come to his aid, but he also got it. He knew Vitalik had made the decision to let Ming handle the bureauc...