The controversial rapper Iggy Azalea has sparked a strange dispute with Vitalik Buterin of Ethereum, accusing him indirectly of taking money from the gas fees of the blockchain.
In a recent social media outburst, Azalea expressed confusion over Ethereum’s gas fee structure, stating, “I question what you are doing with gas money. It’s so rich of you to have an opinion on charities and hospitals, whatever…but let’s talk about the gas fees…the gas tax.”
This comes just shortly after the Ethereum co-founder condemned crypto ventures spearheaded by celebrities such as Iggy Azalea’s Mother Iggy token and stressed the need for initiatives that offer actual value to society despite the fact they may lose their monetary worth over time.
However, people in the crypto community laughed at this statement made by an Australian singer because she seemed not to understand how gas fees work on Ethereum.
Gas fees are paid to miners and validators who process transactions on the Ethereum network, not to Buterin himself. The fees incentivize network participants and cover computational costs.
Adam Cochran, a partner at Cinneamhain Ventures, believes Azalea’s take highlights a marketing challenge for the crypto industry. He stated, “Iggy thinking Vitalik takes the fees represents the marketing challenge all of crypto has.”
The feud gained traction last month when Azalea launched her “Mother Iggy” (IGGY) meme token, which surged over 1,000% within a week. She then mocked Buterin with a meme after he criticized her token.
During a recent podcast, Azalea refused to back down, stating, “Maybe some people shouldn’t have an opinion sometimes, but I respect that you made something. Don’t get me wrong.”
This clash between the rapper and Ethereum’s co-founder has drawn attention to the ongoing need for clearer communication and education within the crypto space.