Original Title: "Vitalik Lives in an Apartment, Wears Slippers, Takes the Subway: In Singapore, He Lives Like an Ordinary Person"

Original Source: The Singaporean Coconut

Editor's Note: As Ethereum is on the verge of reaching a milestone-like $4800 all-time high, founder Vitalik Buterin is once again trending. However, people are not concerned about his astronomical net worth, but rather about his statement that he always hand washes his clothes.

Here's the story: Someone noticed that a Solana meme founder was staying at a $30,000 per night ultra-luxurious hotel, and as a strong contrast, Vitalik, with $11 billion worth of ETH in his wallet, was discussing in another post with netizens the worthiness of a $4 hotel laundry service. He felt it was not worth it, and then he said, "So I always hand wash my clothes."

For Ethereum to reach an all-time high again, apart from ETH continuously upgrading performance, public companies buying up hundreds of billions of dollars, Layer 2 applications running non-stop, and so on, perhaps half the credit goes to Vitalik's thriftiness.

Hand washing clothes is just the tip of the iceberg; Vitalik, with a net worth equivalent to buying a Gulfstream, still takes the subway when going out, wears T-shirts all year round, and indeed does not project an extravagant image; he truly lacks a significant interest in consumption. Below is a reproduced content:

In the early morning of Singapore, the sunlight has just grazed the Marina Bay area. Not far from the city center, inside an apartment, a tall and slim young man stands by the window, his black pupils focused and calm.

He is dressed in a simple T-shirt and shorts, his hair slightly tousled, looking no different from any programmer taking an early morning stroll. Few would notice that this seemingly ordinary young man is none other than Ethereum's founder Vitalik Buterin — the "V God" in the blockchain world, a near-mythical figure in the digital realm who vehemently hides his halo in real life.

Vitalik said he enjoys the early mornings in Singapore. The air here is humid and fresh, the city has just woken up, there is no daytime hustle and bustle, nor the never-ending noise of the crypto industry.

Occasionally, he would stop here, pondering Ethereum's next upgrade, or just to clear his mind. In these moments, he is no longer the "Vitalik Buterin" revered by the global cryptocurrency community, but just a 30-year-old young man, enjoying a moment of peace.

From "Digital Nomad" to Singapore Resident

In early 2023, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin revealed on Twitter that he had obtained Singaporean permanent residency, sparking widespread discussion in the crypto community.

This "crypto nomad," born in Russia, raised in Canada, and a long-time global traveler, why did he ultimately choose this Southeast Asian city-state as his long-term base?

The answer may lie in his daily life trajectory. One morning, he might be seen at the National University of Singapore's Blockchain Research Center, discussing the latest advancements in zero-knowledge proof technology with researchers.

In the afternoon, he might walk to the nearby Kampong Glam area, where he frequents a coffee shop called "Plain Vanilla" to propose Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). This rich academic and vibrant living environment is a key reason for his choice of Singapore.

In his daily life, Vitalik often maintains a low-key and mysterious presence. The staff at Plain Vanilla Bakery confirm that he visits at least 2-3 times a week, usually ordering a black coffee and working for 3-4 hours.

His residence in Singapore is a perfect reflection of minimalism within the urban setting. He resides in a low-rise apartment in Kampong Glam, rather than a luxury condo or serviced residence (such as those favored by many crypto wealthy individuals in Marina Bay or Sentosa). According to Singapore property market data, similar units rent for about 5,000-7,000 SGD per month. Far below his financial capacity, in line with his minimalist style.

A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous also mentioned: "He often goes downstairs to buy coffee wearing slippers, looking like an ordinary tenant, not at all like a billionaire."

This minimalist style is not deliberate, but rather a long-standing habit of his — material needs have never been a priority for him, and intellectual freedom is the true luxury. "I don't want a life like Musk's." He has expressed this view publicly on multiple occasions.

In Singapore, he has indeed avoided Silicon Valley-style hero worship. He has no bodyguards, no ostentatious displays on social media, and he rarely even gives interviews.

Usually, his daily travels mainly rely on the subway and walking. Someone once took a picture of him wearing headphones, sitting quietly at the subway station waiting for the train.

Mind you, that year his net worth was already 739 million SGD! Billionaires taking the subway may not be unheard of, but there aren't many with such a humble demeanor as V God.

In fact, V God himself was quite interested in the media's extensive coverage of this news, even deliberately reposting the reports with the caption "Mom, I made the news (for taking the subway)!"

This was not a stunt, and netizens have not been the first to encounter him on the subway. It's no wonder that netizens would express their feelings of "seeing a billionaire squeeze onto the subway for the first time in their life."

Image Source: Redditor @ RareSightings

However, in stark contrast to his simple life, is his generosity towards charity.

In 2021, he donated 1.2 billion USD worth of SHIB tokens to the India COVID Relief Fund; in 2023, he donated 15 million USD to the Malaria Elimination Fund. This "personal minimalism, philanthropic generosity" lifestyle, once exposed, has earned him even more respect from others.

A Day in the Life of an "Atypical" Crypto Leader

Although he remains low-key in public, he is not isolated from the world. He occasionally appears at tech salons or developer meetups in Singapore, but rejects any form of hero worship. He prefers to engage in discussions on equal footing rather than be revered as a "industry godfather."

Developers from many crypto communities occasionally meet him at small technical gatherings, but he always appears as a participant rather than a surrounded celebrity. This low-key approach allows him to stay focused without being disturbed by external noise.

Vitalik Buterin speaking at Token2049, a cryptocurrency and blockchain event

Vitalik maintains a highly disciplined lifestyle. The morning is usually his deep research time, where he reads the latest cryptographic papers or writes technical proposals for future Ethereum upgrades.

The afternoons may involve meetings to discuss the details of the "Constantinople Upgrade" with the core development team or to engage with scholars and students from local universities on more cutting-edge information.

Vitalik Buterin speaking at Nanyang Technological University

Unlike many high-profile crypto CEOs, Buterin refuses to cultivate a "cult leader" atmosphere in the office. His work bases in Singapore include:

· Shared office spaces in one-north tech hub

· Blockchain labs at Nanyang Technological University

· Several quiet cafés scattered throughout the city

Ethereum core developer Hsiao-Wei Wang revealed: "Vitalik's meetings always focus on technical topics and never waste time defending his own views. If data proves him wrong, he immediately changes his stance." This pragmatic style has allowed Ethereum to continue its technical iterations during the bear market, culminating in the successful Istanbul Upgrade in 2023.

Surprisingly, his interests extend far beyond cryptocurrency.

In Singapore, he has begun to explore the relationship between technology and society more broadly. He often engages with AI researchers, mathematicians, and urban planning experts, discussing topics such as decentralized identity systems, post-quantum cryptography, and even lessons that can be learned from Singapore's public housing policies. A scholar who had dinner with him once recalled: "We talked for three hours, ranging from game theory to Platonic philosophy, with cryptocurrency only making up a small part."

This interdisciplinary thinking may suggest that Vitalik is no longer just aiming to be a "blockchain leader" but is gradually shifting towards a more macroscopic technological philosophy and social design.

At the same time, his social circle is not limited to the crypto industry. He would eat a $4 Hainanese Chicken Rice at a regular hawker center and discuss international politics or science fiction with friends.

Singaporean singer JJ Lin once posted a photo with Vitalik on social media, indicating that amidst his daily life in Singapore, he has also made many new friends.

This "ordinary person" lifestyle stands out in the midst of the crypto billionaire circle full of supercars and yacht parties, but it is also exactly Vitalik's uniqueness—he is always wary of the alienation of wealth and fame from people.

A Thinker Beyond Cryptocurrency

Singapore's openness to cryptocurrency has attracted a large number of professionals, but it has also brought regulatory challenges.

Vitalik has maintained a cautious and constructive relationship with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). After the 2022 Terra/Luna flash crash event, he publicly supported MAS's efforts to strengthen stablecoin regulation, but also called for "avoiding stifling regulation of genuine innovation."

This balanced stance is reflected in the composition of his social circle: there are both regulatory figures like former MAS Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty and technical pioneers like the founder of Zilliqa. A vice professor at the Singapore Management University commented, "Vitalik Buterin understands the wisdom of the Eastern 'Doctrine of the Mean.'

Former MAS Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty

In recent years, Buterin's public speeches have increasingly focused on tech ethics. At the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival, he introduced the concept of "Decentralized Society" (DeSoc), emphasizing that blockchain should serve social welfare rather than financial speculation. This shift aligns with his changing reading habits—the proportion of political philosophy works on his Kindle book list has noticeably increased.

It is worth noting that he still maintains a pure love for mathematics. A member of the Singapore Mathematical Society recalled, "At a private gathering, Vitalik spent half an hour explaining his new insights into 'Hypergraph' theory to us, looking bright-eyed like a college student."

「Ethereum's Stealth」: Amid the Crypto Craze

Vitalik Buterin's lifestyle in Singapore is, to some extent, a resistance to the over-commercialization of the crypto industry. While many project teams are enthusiastic about hype, marketing, and short-term gains, he maintains his cryptographic roots, focusing on the essence of technology.

His "stealth" is not about evasion but an active choice—in the digital age, true power may lie not in exposure but in absolute control of one's time and attention.

He doesn't need to be a spotlight performer because he has already proven that those who truly change the world are often the ones who know when to stay silent.

Singapore's rain comes and goes in a hurry. Local developers have often seen Vitalik Buterin enjoy taking a solitary walk in East Coast Park after the rain. This habit may metaphorically represent his situation: in the eye of the crypto storm, he chooses to be a calm observer, deeply involved in technical advancement yet maintaining enough distance to examine the industry's essence.

Vitalik Buterin's lifestyle in Singapore is better described as a conscious choice of ordinariness rather than seclusion.

He rejects the typical flaunting of wealth seen among crypto billionaires and instead focuses on technical research, philanthropy, and simple life pleasures. Perhaps this choice is one of the reasons he continues to wield influence in the crypto world.

Perhaps, this is the most precious revelation "V God" has bestowed upon this era: Amid the technological frenzy, maintaining human integrity is more revolutionary than creating any disruptive technology.

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