Who Created Ethereum? Founders, History & White Paper Explained

Have you ever wondered who created Ethereum and how this groundbreaking blockchain changed crypto forever? Ethereum is now a global powerhouse driving DeFi, NFTs, and thousands of decentralized applications. But it all began with a simple question: Could blockchain do more than just handle digital money? In this article, you’ll discover exactly who created Ethereum, meet all the visionary co-founders, learn about the iconic white paper, trace the project’s earliest milestones, and understand why it matters today. Let’s explore the origins of Ethereum and reveal the pioneers whose ideas are still shaping crypto’s future.

Who Created Ethereum?

So, who created Ethereum? The primary creator of Ethereum is Vitalik Buterin, a Russian-Canadian programmer fascinated by Bitcoin’s potential. In late 2013, Buterin authored the original Ethereum white paper, offering a vision for a blockchain platform capable of running decentralized apps—not just digital currency.

But he didn’t do it alone. The founders of Ethereum include a talented team: Gavin Wood, Joseph Lubin, Anthony Di Iorio, Charles Hoskinson, Mihai Alisie, and Amir Chetrit. Together, these co-founders brought their own expertise, from cryptography to business strategy, and helped turn Vitalik’s concept into reality.

When was Ethereum created? The idea was conceived in 2013 and evolved into a growing community project. Ethereum’s codebase and governance were always open-source, with transparent contributions and debates. The main network officially launched in July 2015, marking the start of a new era for blockchain.

For a detailed history and learning resources, visit the OKX Academy to dive deeper into Ethereum’s roots.

Vitalik Buterin: Visionary Behind Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin, born in 1994 in Russia and raised in Canada, showed an early knack for mathematics and programming. His crypto journey began as a reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, where he explored the limitations and potential of Bitcoin’s technology.

It was through these experiences that Vitalik conceived the idea for Ethereum. He believed blockchain should be programmable—enabling developers to build a wide variety of decentralized applications. Driven by this vision, he wrote and published the Ethereum white paper in late 2013. This document quickly circulated among crypto enthusiasts and developers who saw the immense potential of a more flexible blockchain.

As Ethereum’s main founder, Vitalik has remained at the forefront of its development—continually guiding its technical direction and long-term vision. He contributes to Ethereum’s ongoing upgrades, innovations, and community interactions, making him one of crypto’s most influential thought leaders.

If you want to explore his work, check out the OKX Learning Center for insights and interviews on Vitalik’s impact.

Who Are the Ethereum Co-Founders?

While Vitalik set Ethereum’s vision, a dedicated team of ethereum co-founders was crucial to its success. Each person brought distinct expertise, helping turn the project from paper to working blockchain.

Gavin Wood: Technical Lead

Gavin Wood, a British computer scientist, joined early and made a massive technical impact. He created Solidity, the programming language that powers Ethereum smart contracts. Wood also coined the term “Ethereum Virtual Machine” (EVM) and shaped many core protocols, making him essential to Ethereum’s architecture.

Other Key Contributors

• Joseph Lubin: Co-founder and early entrepreneur, Lubin supported the Ethereum project with funding and business development. He later founded ConsenSys, which helps build decentralized applications and infrastructure.
• Anthony Di Iorio: An early Bitcoin investor, Di Iorio helped fund the project in its formative months and organized meetups that built community support.
• Charles Hoskinson: With a background in mathematics, Hoskinson contributed to early discussions around Ethereum’s governance and structure. He later founded Cardano, another major blockchain.
• Mihai Alisie: From Switzerland, Alisie played a key role in building Ethereum’s early community, handling communications and outreach.
• Amir Chetrit: Chetrit assisted with organizational development and helped unify the founding team.

💡 Pro Tip: Studying Ethereum’s founders gives great insight into how multidisciplinary teams create breakthrough crypto projects. Want to know more about industry pioneers? Dive into the deep-dive features at OKX Academy.

The Ethereum White Paper: How It All Started

The birth of Ethereum began with the release of the Ethereum white paper by Vitalik Buterin in late 2013. In just 13 pages, Vitalik outlined the idea of a programmable blockchain: a decentralized platform where anyone could build and run smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps).

The white paper described how Ethereum would go beyond Bitcoin’s simple transfers, aiming to be a ‘world computer’ for programmable money and digital agreements. This vision immediately attracted the attention of developers and crypto experts who saw the potential to create new financial products, games, markets, and more on blockchain.

As the white paper spread, it united a group of passionate co-founders around a shared goal. Their combined efforts led to rapid technical development and organizational progress.

Interested in the technical details? You can read the full white paper—perfect for advanced learners—through the OKX Ethereum Academy.

Ethereum’s Launch: Timeline and Early Development

After the white paper’s buzz, the Ethereum team launched a successful public crowdsale in 2014, raising over $18 million in Bitcoin to fund development. This event became one of crypto’s first large-scale Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), signifying massive community excitement.

Key development milestones included:

• Testnets: Before launch, Ethereum ran several test networks (“Olympic,” “Frontier”) to find bugs and improve performance.
• Network Launch: In July 2015, Ethereum’s “Frontier” version went live. Developers and early adopters could finally deploy real smart contracts.
• Mainnet Evolution: Soon after, upgrades like “Homestead” and “Metropolis” followed, each adding features and refining network reliability.

💡 Pro Tip: The Ethereum network’s early adoption owes much to its active developer community. For a deeper dive, review Ethereum’s mainnet history through OKX Academy.

As an early industry supporter, OKX continues to be a hub for Ethereum trading and education.

What Makes Ethereum Unique vs. Bitcoin?

Although Ethereum vs Bitcoin is a common debate, they serve different purposes. Bitcoin primarily acts as a decentralized currency and store of value. Ethereum, however, introduced smart contracts—self-executing programs that run on its blockchain.

This innovation lets users deploy decentralized apps (dApps), launch their own tokens, and build protocols for finance, art, gaming, and more. The ETH coin (Ether) powers the network by paying for transactions and computational services. Unlike Bitcoin’s fixed scripting system, Ethereum’s flexible programming language enables endless possibilities.

OKX supports trading not only ETH but a wide range of ethereum tokens—making it a top choice for anyone looking to diversify their crypto portfolio with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ethereum’s Creation

Who is the founder of Ethereum?

Vitalik Buterin is the primary founder of Ethereum, but he built the project with several co-founders: Gavin Wood, Joseph Lubin, Anthony Di Iorio, Charles Hoskinson, Mihai Alisie, and Amir Chetrit. Their combined vision and skills were crucial for Ethereum’s launch.

Who wrote the Ethereum white paper?

The Ethereum white paper was written by Vitalik Buterin in 2013. After its publication, the project attracted additional co-founders who helped develop the platform.

Who are the co-founders of Ethereum?

Ethereum’s co-founders are Gavin Wood (lead developer), Joseph Lubin (business and funding), Anthony Di Iorio (finance), Charles Hoskinson (governance), Mihai Alisie (community), and Amir Chetrit (organization). Each played a vital role in Ethereum’s growth.

When was Ethereum created?

Ethereum’s white paper was released in 2013, and the Ethereum network officially launched in July 2015 after a successful crowdsale.

How did Ethereum get started?

Ethereum started with Vitalik Buterin’s idea for a programmable blockchain. After publishing the white paper in 2013, he gathered a team of co-founders, raised funds through a crowdsale in 2014, and launched the network in 2015.

Conclusion

Ethereum’s creation was a collaborative feat, beginning with Vitalik Buterin’s vision and brought to life by a group of dedicated co-founders. Today, it stands as a pillar of innovation within crypto. Key takeaways:

• Vitalik Buterin authored the Ethereum white paper in 2013, starting it all.
• A diverse team of co-founders including Gavin Wood and Charles Hoskinson contributed crucial skills.
• Ethereum launched in 2015 and revolutionized blockchain through smart contracts and dApps.
• OKX is your resource for learning, secure trading, and understanding Ethereum’s role.

Ready to explore Ethereum? Check out OKX Academy and begin your journey into the blockchain revolution today.