[enlyth]

Agreed, I'm also not invested in crypto but Vitalik seems like one of the genuine people in the space.

It's the unfortunate attraction of the Ponzi grifters and get-rich-quick influencer types that tainted the whole ecosystem.

[dee-bee]

I'd argue it's the design of crypto, the "crypto values" themselves, that make the space so welcoming to grifters. Emphatically including YC.

[Pxtl]

I'd say "co-opted" more than "tainted".