Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin defended the crucial role of venture capital (VC) funding in accelerating the growth of the world’s leading smart contract platform. His statement addresses growing concerns about VC influence over the network’s direction, following recent departures of prominent Ethereum researchers who joined firms backed by these funds. 💰 Lubin acknowledged that firms like Paradigm aim to maximize profits from the Ethereum ecosystem, but maintains they contribute to decentralization efforts and are essential for long-term development. He argues that VC involvement remains vital for continued growth of Ethereum, despite concerns about potential bias due to funding relationships.