A friend hit me up today with a surprise: a ticket to the Vitalik documentary premiere I was waitlisted for. The theatre was buzzing with excitement.

The movie was beautifully executed, tracing the evolution of ethereum from its inception through key milestones. It celebrated successes but didn’t shy away from showing the doubts and uncertainties Vitalik faced as he shapes the future with his own hands. What struck me most was how it portrayed his inner child - moments when he shied away from the camera, when he played with a balloon, when he talked about bunnies... The story could have taken many forms, but it was told as a story of a human, not of a technology. Smart move.

I told Sophia that I can't help but be infatuated with the world this man has created. He comes across as so real, passionate, and down-to-earth, as he uplifts an entire ecosystem of techno-explorers and redefines the concept of community. I always wondered why the community effect was so anchoring in crypto since I first joined in April, 2024; I think now I know why.

To be completely honest, I don't yet feel like an insider in the whole ethereum landscape. I am building on Base, on Ethereum, alongside thousands of thousands of believers and pioneers who are way ahead of me in their journey - there's so much I don't know. Many people at the premiere had little anecdotes about meeting Vitalik, but I didn’t feel left out. I don't need to stand close to the sun to feel its warmth; great energy radiates, inspires from a distance, then pulls people in.

"Don't be loud until there is something to be loud about." Great things often come to life in solitude before crowds follow. Vitalik was a good example of that. Time to keep creating.

(Shout out to Linda and Michael I talked to from the production team - thx for making this happen!)