A Visionary's Journey: Unveiling Vitalik Buterin's Iconic Portrait

You may recognize this iconic portrait of the Prince of Crypto as it is among the first blocks in a chain of events preceding Ethereum's release. Though you probably haven’t heard the heart-warming story of how it came to be.

Grab your tea and sit down for another magical tale from the enchanting world of DeFi.

Once Upon A Pre-Smart Contracted Time, in Canada, what feels like eons ago, a remarkable programmer,  19-year-old Vitalik Buterin, had the vision to assemble many blockchain concepts into one unifying blockchain. Not many fathomed that the vibrant imagination of an uncommon boy would lead to transforming the future digital landscape.

Vitalik Buterin?

Vitaly Dmitrievich Buterin,  Vitalik, is a 90’s born Russian-Canadian computer programmer who famously founded the Ethereum blockchain with his father, Dmitry Buterin, Joseph Lubin, Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, and Anthony Di Iorio.

Vitalik began making a name for himself, writing for Bitcoin Magazine. During that opportunity, he compiled the Ethereum white paper and released it on January 23, 2014, via Bitcointalk.

Concurrently, Vitalik, a then-teen, discussed a professional photo shoot proposed by Miller.

A mere few days after the world’s most extensive supercomputer white paper was launched, Vitalik spoke at the Miami Bitcoin conference before returning to Toronto for his most famous photoshoot.

As Ethereum was conceived, so was Vitalik Buterin’s brand.

Andrew Miller's journey with the young visionary began weeks before Vitalik released the brilliant Ethereum white paper.

Michael Perklin of the Bitcoin Alliance of Canada formally introduced Miller to Vitalik while sitting on the Bitcoin Decentral Hub steps in 2014. Andrew recounts his first encounter with digital assets at the early crypto event.

"Decentral was located in the Chinatown of Toronto. I walked off Spadina Street with the air carrying the scent of Eastern food and entered a space containing a newly minted company's plastic and paint smells.”

“New computers, open Amazon packages, and freshly coated white walls stretch far back in the extremely long and narrow building. Monitors stood with matrix code as screen savers, the only art-like content in the space. It felt like a naked gallery waiting for an exhibition.”

“A lone crypto ATM stood at the front like a sculpture with the value of Bitcoin showing just over $650 USD. Among the other Ethereum co-founders, the disheveled and uncertain Vitalik was at the back. I recall Vitalik standing with poor posture; he dressed like any teen gamer at the local comic shop while his eyes shifted rapidly, alternating between anxiety and calculation. He appeared to be an awkward yet endearing genius.”

Miller learned the ends and outs of blockchain technology by observing the gawky kid sitting on the floor as they consumed takeout in styrofoam containers; he states;

“It felt like I was in high school 17 years prior. Despite the 15 years between us, we connected over World of Warcraft, which was once a substantial part of our lives. Vitalik discussed his passion for decentralized power began with some disappointments within WoW.”

“The lanky teen spoke of many things that allowed me to study his intentions and views of the world, and I deemed him exceedingly well-intentioned.”

Miller noted when Vitalik shifted the subject to Ethereum, the lackluster teen became a brilliantly lit leader,

“His vision was immense, and his eyes and chin drifted upwards. The awkward teen disappeared, and a confident adult appeared. I realized that something extraordinary would come from this individual. Vitalik later spoke about his invention to a crowd, and I listened.”

“Many people were there to hear him speak. The room was crowded with a mixture of downtown office types and basement hackers rubbing elbows. Vitalik pulled them in with his pure vision of a powerful tool that could define a better and more moral currency with smart contracts.”

“The excited buzz was palatable. Some were decrying his ideas and demanding how things would be executed. The founders of Ethereum often shuffled about pulling Vitalik forward to answer questions about the whitepaper while the rest talked about execution.”

“It wasn’t the perfect presentation, I’ll honestly say. At times I chuckled listening because I could see a live recreation of the Monty Python scene in “Life of Brian” where Brian accidentally found himself as a prophet. I decided to contribute to the cause of this unintentional crypto messiah. I did it because I celebrated the imperfect but genuine human I had sat and eaten food with. Who taught me when he was busy taking on a massive endeavor. I  offered him his first professional photoshoot as a gift to help the young man start.”

Intrigued by Ethereum’s potential and inspired by Vitalik’s uniqueness, brilliance, and potential to change history, Miller immediately embarked on a mission to contribute to Buterin's public image through a  now iconic set of portraits.

Miller admits he was touched after witnessing the mature and confident persona Vitalik Buterin revealed while discussing smart contract technology.

Within the naturally awkward boy's speech, Miller devised a plan to encourage those powerful attributes to emerge via photography by negotiating with the other less confident persona.

Miller states, “I knew I could pull off a professional photo unlike anyone else. I had a particular talent for dealing with social anxiety due to personal relationships, and a plan began to take shape. The shoot became the most intentional production of my career so far, as I emailed back and forth with Vitalik about the production. I felt so strongly about Vitalik’s potential that I wanted a part in manifesting it. I envisioned the journey of the photos from the camera to a Fortune 500 cover. I knew I could take this gawky, pimply, unshaven kid and make him look unforgettable. It all began with the emails nudging shy Vitalik towards my vision.”

In an excerpt from the first email exchange Andrew sent Vitalik on Jan 23rd, 2014,

“I myself am not a cryptocurrency follower yet, I've too much on my plate, but I like coming out to learn more. What I would like to do is offer you a free professional portrait for your blog. I think it would be interesting to have a conversation with you during the shoot since you seem to be one of the most well-versed people on the subject.…..”

Little did Andrew know that Vitalik would announce Ethereum on Bitcointalk in a few hours. Satoshi Nakamoto, the infamous and anonymous Bitcoin inventor, reportedly created a forum.

Vitalik responded to Andrew after posting on Bitcointalk,

“Thanks a lot for your offer; I will be happy to take you up on that. I'll be coming back to Toronto Monday night; feel free to suggest some time and place we could meet.”

Thus began 11 email exchanges negotiating the specifics of the production.

Andrew spent days preceding the shoot organizing with the talented makeup artist Jocelyn Santos-Thompson and photographer Kareen Mallon who acted as a photo assistant. Together with a $100,000 photography kit, they set out to make history.

Miller recalls capturing the perfect portrait had some quirky stumbling blocks. As Miller prepared for the photo shoot, he discovered that the socially awkward teenager didn't even own a dress shirt.

As far as professional photo shoots go, a suit jacket or snazzy outfit is typically bound to the camera's primary target.

Nah, nah…not this time.

Unlike other adolescents, Vitalik Buterin did not care to dress to impress, as he was occupied with originating computer languages, inventing smart contracts, and navigating masses in blockchain development.

Undeterred, Miller graciously lent him his very own fancy dress shirt, understanding the importance of capturing Buterin's essence for posterity.

Miller informed this author he had Vitalik step in front of his camera, and with a lack of enthusiasm, he did. Though, as Vitalik Buterin posed in front of Miller's lens, something magical commenced. The shy and socially naive exterior melted away, giving rise to a confident and determined young man.

Miller recalls, “Vitalik disappointedly arrived at the shoot with his worn-out sweater that appears in many of his older photos and other hand-me-down clothes. The white t-shirt underneath had lost elasticity in the collar and had food stains that had survived many washes. He was unshaven and was still clearly bewildered by the attention he was getting. Quickly adapting, I stripped off my dress shirt and put it on the young Prince, which is why you might notice the size is not quite a fit for the tall teen. I aimed to capture him with as close to a Mona Lisa smile as possible. A smile that flickers brighter the less you search for it. It would invite him to engage and convey a soft approachableness.”

“Vitalik, we want that soft Mona Lisa Smile”. Andrew Miller

During the briefing before the shoot, Andrew stressed to his team the need to have Vitalik so comfortable that a half smile would always be on his face.

“We intentionally coaxed his personality with topics of discussion he thrived on so he would feel among friends. Introverts need an anchor person to lock onto, and Jocelyn spent a reasonable amount of time face-to-face with him as she touched him up with cosmetics. She sat beside the camera during the shoot, supporting the conversation with Vitalik.” Miller recollects.

Miller continues, “I noticed Vitalik’s odd watch on his wrist, which had no digits. It turns out it was a gift from his father, Dmitry, that tells time in binary. He was warm and misty-eyed when discussing the present, so a point was made to display it proudly in the shoot.”

“The shoot was a victory from the start. We sculpted him into a bolder-looking figure with steady eyes, a soft smile, and broad shoulders. He shared with us his personal experiences and, in doing so, revealed more of his inner self.”

Ethereum is often hailed as the world's leading smart contract platform. But behind this digital revolution lies the story of a humble, shy, and well-intentioned visionary. Miller's portraits are the enduring artifacts of this crypto fairytale. This diegesis reveals the strength Vitalik generated from his ungainly beginnings from those who saw his vision more clearly than he did. Vitalik shows that any child when given a loving and supportive environment, can change humanity.

Andrew Miller has gone on to be a fan of Vitalik Buterin and befriend the man that trained this author in blockchain technology, Dmitry Buterin, Vitalik’s empathic and highly spiritual father.

Miller proclaims:

“In Vitalik, We Trust”- Andrew Miller

“Vitalik Buterin’s persistence as a trusted individual does not arise from a perception of financial genius but because he is always 100% focused on the ethical progression of technology, even when it comes at a high cost or curtailing of economic potential.

Some examples of demonstrable integrity are as follows.

If you never heard about him purging $6.7 Billion dollars in Shinu Inu (or $32.5 Billion at the time of the linked article)

“I don't want to be a locus of power of that kind.” -Vitalik Buterin.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vitalik tweeted against Putin despite the apparent harm it would cause him personally in his future travels and dealings in Russia.

He showed his backbone again when challenged, doubling down in another tweet. “Reminder: Ethereum is neutral, but I am not.”

“The palatable integrity is what I saw back in 2014 and inspired me to support Vitalik.“

What happened to Vitalik’s Mona Lisa Images? The Crypto Prince’s Photographic Phenomena

As many celebs have found out the unfortunate way, Miller awoke one day and realized his intimate photo shoot with Vitalik had gone viral.

In February of 2022, Miller reverse Google searched the impressive portraits; the results were overwhelming. They were featured in hundreds of podcast banners, websites, speaking agencies, news articles, derivative fan art, and memes and, further, were even sold as knock-offs NFTs!

The images traversed the realms of media, memes, and derivative art, becoming inseparable from Ethereum itself. They embody trust, recognition, and the collaborative spirit that has propelled Ethereum's success over the past decade.

Never being accredited for the work, Andrew emotionally shared on social media, he was the photographer.

Immediately he was contacted by an early investor in Ethereum from his friend list. They connected Miller with Dmitry Buterin, and after conversing, Miller was convinced that a commemorative NFT would create a significant wave.

Until July 30th, 2023, the Vitalik Buterin portrait will be auctioned as an NFT at https://gallery.manifold.xyz/ethereumgenesis. Collectors and enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity to own a piece of crypto history and forever be connected to the birth of Ethereum.

The upcoming auction of the Vitalik Buterin portrait serves as a celebration—an acknowledgment of Ethereum's incredible journey and the countless individuals who have contributed to its growth. It is a reminder that there are human stories, dreams, and unwavering determination behind groundbreaking creations.

Everyone Can Become Part of this Magical Image.

Visit the auction page to track this historic event, immerse yourself in Ethereum, and prepare to bid on this irreplaceable piece of history. You can even use a Manifold referral link to find a buyer for this artwork and earn a 6.9% commission, roughly $41,000.00 USD, at the auction launch.

Your participation will be a part of Ethereum's ever-evolving saga, an ode to the transformative power of ideas and the individuals who dare to bring them to life.

As we venture into the future, let’s not forget the ones who paved the way for today’s technologies. Vitalik Buterin's portrait is a monument to a remarkable journey that began with an unfathomable dream of an unlikely underdog that blossomed into a global movement.

annnnnnnd everyone lived Happily ETHER After! hehe

The End

This article is dedicated to Vitalik Buterin and his early supporters, especially Dima (Vitalik’’s Father) and Andrew Miller.

Special thanks to: George Krieger and Adam Alonzi for introducing this story to me and for you both being amazing best friends. <3

Author: Alyze Sam, Tech & Authors & GODL

Edited By: Adam Alonzi

Personal Interview and Story Narrated By: Andrew Miller

For further information and press inquiries, please get in touch with Andrew Miller at [email protected]

Visit www.AwesomePhotography.ca to explore more of Miller's captivating work.