Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has criticized billionaire investor Peter Thiel for his anti-cypherpunk views, highlighting Thiel's support for surveillance and centralized power as contrary to the core values of cryptocurrency. Buterin pointed to a 2007 essay by Thiel that endorses Leo Strauss's philosophy, which advocates for secrecy and elite control. Despite Thiel's investments in Ethereum-related companies, his history of skepticism toward democracy and backing of surveillance firms has drawn Buterin's ire. Buterin emphasized the need for Ethereum's gradual 'ossification' to mitigate centralization risks while advocating for broader decentralization and diverse leadership within the crypto community.