Vitalik Buterin openly rejected claims that artificial intelligence could compromise Bitcoin's core security, revealing on September 7 that roughly 90 percent of his personal net worth is positioned on the thesis that Bitcoin's cryptographic foundations will hold.
Angel investor Liron Shapira predicted AI advancements could trigger a Bitcoin price collapse exceeding 50 percent within two years, expressing 50 percent confidence in the outcome.
Shapira's argument centers on AI systems discovering weaknesses in SHA-256 hashing or other cryptographic primitives that secure the Bitcoin network. He suggested an AI could efficiently reverse-engineer proof-of-work puzzles or forge transactions, leading to a collapse in the trust model.
Buterin countered that the risk of proof-of-work and hash mechanisms being compromised is "extremely low probability." SHA-256, the cryptographic hash function Bitcoin uses, has undergone decades of scrutiny from cryptographers. Breaking it would not only threaten Bitcoin—it would undermine most of modern internet security, including banking and military communications.
Buterin has previously articulated a broader thesis on AI's dual role for blockchain security: both risks and opportunities. He highlighted AI-assisted formal verification as an edge. Formal verification uses machine learning to mathematically prove that code performs exactly as intended, enhancing security and reliability.
Buterin's analysis rests on a structural asymmetry: attackers and defenders both gain from AI, but defenders hold the advantage. Breaking encryption is computationally expensive; verifying it is cheap. In cryptographic security, that gap is decisive.
Buterin's forceful rejection carries weight as the founder of Ethereum, Bitcoin's largest competitor. His public position—backed by personal capital—demonstrates conviction beyond market cheerleading.
