Renting a house, taking the subway, wearing flip-flops - Vitalik Buterin's minimalist life in Singapore

Original Title: "V God Lives in a HDB, Wears Slippers, Takes the MRT: In Singapore, He Lives Like an Ordinary Person"

Original source: Singapore Lion City Coconut

In the early morning of Singapore, the sun has just skimmed over the Marina Bay area. In an apartment not far from the city center, a tall and thin young man stands by the window, his black pupils focused and calm.

He wears a simple T-shirt and shorts, his hair slightly messy, looking no different from any programmer taking an early morning walk. Few would notice that this seemingly ordinary young man is Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum—the "V God" of the blockchain world, a figure who is almost mythical in the digital realm but strives to conceal his halo in real life.

V said he likes the mornings in Singapore. The air here is humid and fresh, the city has just awakened, without the daytime hustle and bustle, and without the incessant noise of the cryptocurrency industry.

He occasionally stops here to contemplate the next upgrade of Ethereum, or simply to clear his mind. In those moments, he is no longer the "V God" admired by the global cryptocurrency community, but just a 30-year-old young man enjoying a moment of tranquility.

From "digital nomad" to Singapore resident

At the beginning of 2023, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin revealed on Twitter that he had obtained permanent residency in Singapore. This news sparked widespread discussion in the crypto community.

Why did this "crypto nomad," born in Russia, raised in Canada, and living around the world for years, ultimately choose this Southeast Asian city-state as a long-term base?

The answer may be hidden in his daily life trajectory. One morning, he might appear at the National University of Singapore's Blockchain Research Center to discuss the latest developments in zero-knowledge proof technology with researchers.

In the afternoon, he might walk to the nearby Tiong Bahru community to revise the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) at a café named "Plain Vanilla." This academically rich and vibrant environment is a key reason why he chose Singapore.

In daily life, V often maintains a low profile and mystery. A staff member at Plain Vanilla Bakery confirmed that he comes in at least 2-3 times a week, usually ordering a black coffee and working for 3-4 hours.

His residence in Singapore can be said to perfectly exemplify minimalism hidden within the city. He rents a low-rise apartment in Tiong Bahru, rather than a luxury condo or serviced apartment (like many crypto millionaires prefer in Marina Bay or Sentosa). According to Singapore's property market data, similar units rent for about 5,000-7,000 SGD per month. This is far below his financial capability and aligns with his minimalist style.

A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous also mentioned, "He often goes downstairs in slippers to buy coffee, looking just like an ordinary tenant, completely unlike a billionaire."

This minimalist style is not intentional, but rather a habit he has developed over time—material needs have never been a priority for him; the freedom of thought is the true luxury. "I don't want a life like Musk's," he has publicly expressed this viewpoint multiple times.

In Singapore, he indeed avoided the Silicon Valley-style personal worship. No bodyguards accompanying him, no flashy displays on social media, and he rarely gave interviews.

Usually, he relies on the subway and walking for his daily commute. Someone once captured him at the subway station, quietly sitting there with headphones on, waiting for the train.

You should know that year he already had 739 million new dollars! There may not be many billionaires who take the subway, but there are indeed not many with such a humble demeanor like Vitalik Buterin.

In fact, Vitalik Buterin himself is quite interested in the media coverage of this news and even specifically shared the report with the caption "Mom, I made the news (because I took the subway)!"

This is not a publicity stunt, and it's not the first time netizens have encountered him on the subway. It's no wonder that netizens would exclaim, "It's the first time I've seen a billionaire taking the subway."

Image source: Xiaohongshu user @ Rarely Seen

However, in stark contrast to the simplicity of his life, is his generosity towards charity.

In 2021, he donated SHIB tokens worth 1.2 billion dollars to the Indian COVID Relief Fund; in 2023, he donated 15 million dollars to the Malaria Foundation. This "personal minimalism and generous philanthropy" lifestyle garnered him more respect from people after the news broke.

A "non-typical" crypto leader's daily routine

Despite maintaining a low profile in public, he is not isolated from the world. He occasionally appears at tech salons or small developer gatherings in Singapore, but he rejects any form of personal worship. He prefers to participate in discussions as an equal rather than being revered as an 'industry patriarch.'

Many developers in the crypto community occasionally see him at small technical meetups, but he always appears as a participant rather than a star surrounded by admirers. This low profile allows him to stay focused and not be disturbed by the noise from the outside.

V spoke at Token2049, an event celebrating cryptocurrency and blockchain.

V's life is highly disciplined. Mornings are usually his deep research time, during which he reads the latest cryptography papers or writes technical proposals about the future upgrades of Ethereum.

In the afternoon, a meeting may be scheduled to discuss the details of the "Cancun Upgrade" with the core development team, or to discuss more cutting-edge information with scholars and students from local higher education institutions.

V's speech at Nanyang Technological University

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

• One-North Shared Office Space
• Nanyang Technological University Blockchain Laboratory
• Tranquil cafes scattered throughout the city

Ethereum core developer Hsiao-Wei Wang revealed: "Vitalik's meetings always cut straight to the technical topics, never wasting time defending his views. If the data proves him wrong, he will change his stance immediately." This pragmatic approach has allowed Ethereum to maintain technical iterations even during the bear market, successfully completing the Shanghai upgrade in 2023.

But surprisingly, his interests go far beyond cryptocurrency.

In Singapore, he began to explore the relationship between technology and society more broadly. He often communicated with researchers in artificial intelligence, mathematicians, and urban planning experts, discussing decentralized identity systems, post-quantum cryptography, and even the lessons to be learned from Singapore's public housing policy. A scholar who had dinner with him recalled: "We talked for three hours, covering topics from game theory to Platonic philosophy, with cryptocurrency occupying only a small part of the conversation."

This cross-disciplinary thinking may suggest that Vitalik Buterin is no longer just aiming to be a "blockchain leader", but is gradually shifting towards a more macro perspective on technology philosophy and social design.

At the same time, his social circle is not limited to the cryptocurrency industry. He would eat Hainanese chicken rice for 4 Singapore dollars at a regular hawker center and discuss international politics or science fiction novels with his friends.

Famous Singaporean singer JJ Lin once posted a photo with Vitalik Buterin on social media, showing that in addition to his daily life in Singapore, he has also made quite a few new friends.

This lifestyle of the "ordinary person" seems out of place in the crypto-rich circle filled with luxury cars and yacht parties, but it is precisely what makes V unique—he remains vigilant about the alienation that wealth and fame can bring to a person.

A thinker beyond cryptocurrency

Singapore's open attitude towards cryptocurrencies has attracted a large number of practitioners, but it also brings regulatory challenges.

V has maintained a cautious yet constructive relationship with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). After the Terra/Luna incident in 2022, he publicly supported MAS's efforts to strengthen the regulation of stablecoins, while also calling for "regulation that avoids stifling genuine innovation."

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

Former Chief Fintech Officer of MAS, Sopnendu Mohanty

In recent years, Buterin's public speeches have increasingly focused on technology 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 coincides with a change in his reading habits—there is a noticeable increase in the proportion of political philosophy works in his Kindle reading list.

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 to us his new insights on 'hypergraph' theory, his eyes sparkling like a college student."

"Invisibility": In the Crypto Craze

V's lifestyle in Singapore is, to some extent, a resistance to the excessive commercialization of the cryptocurrency industry. While many project teams are eager to hype, market, and cash out in the short term, he remains true to his roots as a cryptographer, focusing on the essence of technology.

His "invisibility" is not an escape, but a proactive choice—in the digital age, true power may lie not in exposure, but in absolute control over one's own time and attention.

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

The heavy rain in Singapore comes and goes quickly. Local developers have repeatedly seen V God enjoying solitary walks in East Coast Park after the rain. This habit may metaphorically reflect his current situation: in the eye of the storm in the crypto industry, he chooses to be a calm observer, deeply involved in the evolution of technology while maintaining enough distance to examine the essence of the industry.

Vitalik Buterin's lifestyle in Singapore is better described as a conscious choice for the ordinary rather than as a "hermit".

He rejects the ostentatious culture of wealth common among crypto billionaires, instead focusing on technological research, philanthropy, and the simple joys of life. This choice may be one of the reasons he continues to maintain influence in the crypto world.

Perhaps this is the most precious insight that "V God" has left for this era: in the midst of the technological frenzy, maintaining the integrity of humanity is more revolutionary than creating any disruptive technology.