Vitalik Buterin posts that bullying is bad and does not change by faction
On November 12, 2026, Vitalik Buterin replied to a post on X, saying, “ok please don't do this,” and wrote that, unlike those who tried to target Aya in early 2025, bullying is actually not good and does not become justified just because it is carried out by one’s own side.
The reply was directed at a post by user sparkle (@misparkl3), who wrote, “if you think thats a death threat wait until one of us shows up at your house.” Buterin’s statement was his personal opinion and did not provide specific details of the incident or announce any organizational decision.
In January 2025, Buterin had publicly condemned online harassment and death threats targeting then-Ethereum Foundation executive director Aya Miyaguchi, and said the pressure was creating a toxic environment for top talent. This reply cited that period of history as a contrast.
Original source:
Title: ok please don't do this
Posted by: vitalik.eth（@VitalikButerin）
Date posted: 2026-11-12
URL：x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2120818197926707210
Source type: original post
Verification status: The original post and the content it replied to were read in full for this report; verification date 2026-11-12; no access restrictions
Supporting content: Supports Buterin’s statement opposing bullying and his reference to the early-2025 incident involving Aya as a contrast. Does not prove the full picture of the specific conflict targeted by the current reply or any change in organizational stance.
ABAB AI Insight
When a public figure directly responds to threatening language on social media, it is a common way to place a personal stance alongside a historical event. In this reply, Buterin juxtaposes “don’t do this” with the early-2025 incident involving Aya Miyaguchi, indicating that he believes bullying against individuals is inherently unjustified and does not change depending on which side carries it out.
In January 2025, during discussions around the Ethereum Foundation leadership, some community members directed criticism, pressure, and even death threats at then-executive director Miyaguchi. Buterin said at the time that such an environment is toxic for top developers and reiterated that he would decide on leadership appointments before a formal board was in place. This citation uses that history as a negative comparison.
There is a distance between threatening statements on social media, such as “show up at your house,” and actual legal action, but a public condemnation can shift the discussion from the specific target to whether the behavior itself is acceptable. The material here shows only Buterin’s personal reply and the historical comparison, without providing the full background of the current conflict, the parties involved, or any subsequent developments.
The post is an expression of personal opinion, not an organizational announcement or an update on events. Its added informational value lies in applying a previously public stance from 2025 to the current context again, emphasizing that standards of behavior do not change by faction.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
When a public figure cites a past condemnation of their own, the current event can be placed against a historical backdrop rather than judged in isolation.
The legitimacy of bullying does not automatically arise because it is carried out by the perpetrator’s own faction.
A personal social media reply does not mean an organization has changed its stance or that the incident has been resolved.