In a surprising and somewhat enigmatic turn of events, a programmer who goes by the name ‘Hu LeZhi’ has made a considerable splash in the crypto community.
They have “burned” over $600,000 worth of Ethereum (ETH) and donated more than $2.7 million in various forms of cryptocurrency to that many believe are charity organizations and foundations. These donations are intriguing enough, but what makes this situation truly mysterious is the odd and unclear message that they have attached to this amazing act of financial generosity.
Mysterious Donations and Charitable Contributions
Comprising both donations and burns, the total sum of Hu LeZhi’s acts of generosity might seem impressive at first glance. However, I maintain that it’s a bit unsettling when you consider it more closely.
Actually, it begins with impressive numbers: Hu burned 500 $ETH and donated 25% of the incredibly large sum of 83 million dollars. That’s a lot of charity, and a lot of $ETH removed from circulation. But Hu’s not done raising questions about why he does what he does. Following those two big acts, Hu donated even more to even “worthier” causes, seemingly stirring the pot of intrigue around his motivations as he dons the beggar’s cloak and doles out Ethereum to various allegedly noble causes.
A hefty 711 $ETH, worth close to $1.91 million, was dispatched to WikiLeaks, the internationally infamous non-profit best known for its perilous whistleblowing work. This tremendous donation could come across as an open endorsement of WikiLeaks’ audacious and legally controversial mission. You could argue, since issuing a donation in cryptocurrency could well be seen as a political gesture, that Hu LeZhi is standing in solidarity with WikiLeaks and its legally beleaguered work.
Another big donor stepped up when Hu LeZhi sent 700 $ETH (around $1.87 million) to Endaoment. The organization he selected is quite a bit different from most of the Chinese state-affiliated actors who have made headlines for recently donating to U.S. charities. Those stories have raised alarms about Chinese influence in the U.S. But unlike Hu and those other state-affiliated givers, most Chinese cryptocurrency fans aren’t channeling their donations through organizations that are under the aegis of any particular state.
An unknown programmer named ‘Hu LeZhi’ burnt 600 $ETH and donated 1411+ $ETH to a charity organization.
He also sent 133 $ETH to @ethereumfndn with the message:
“At present, a new crime model of enslaving victims has emerged. The victims’ desires and senses are gradually… pic.twitter.com/sMKSMc68rE
— Onchain Lens (@OnchainLens) February 17, 2025
The Cryptic Message: A Call for Awareness or a Warning?
Even with all the generosity, the most troubling part of this story comes in the form of a mysterious message that accompanied a donation of 133 $ETH ($354K) to the Ethereum Foundation. The message, which was sent along with the donation, reads as follows:
Currently, a new crime model has emerged that allows for the enslavement of victims. The desires and senses of the victims are taken away from them gradually until they become completely subservient to a digital machine. If I ever become a victim in the last stage of this crime, I will choose to die because living like that would not be worth it. The reason I would opt for death over life in this scenario is that I have military-grade brain-computer chips implanted in my skull. All military powers today use base stations, radios, and nano brain-computer chips to control all citizens, and I’m one of their many test subjects.
This unusual and disconcerting communication seems to serve as a warning or a personal declaration, and it addresses several familiar concerns. First, there seems to be the basic fear, not entirely unfounded, that military powers are using technology to gain ever more control over citizens. In particular, brain-computer interfaces, or “BCIs,” are clearly something that Hu LeZhi imagines could be used in a very Orwellian manner. Next, too, there is the basic human concern with loss of autonomy and being forced to serve someone else’s agenda. The idea that a human programmer could be made to serve a power-mad authority is certainly worthy of a sci-fi story, and maybe even a nightmare or two.
Some people think that this message could be a form of protest against what they see as excessive technological encroachment, especially regarding the burgeoning influence of AI and brain-computer interfaces. The veracity of these claims is hard to pin down. Still, the very notion that technology could be used to control or subordinate people strikes a chord with many critics of surveillance capitalism and our society’s obsession with collecting vast amounts of data.
What Does This All Mean?
Questions remain unanswered about what Hu LeZhi is really up to. The truly amazing charitable donations are one thing; the equally amazing decision to burn hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Ethereum is another. Where is Hu LeZhi going with this? What kind of message is (s)he trying to communicate? And do the crazy seemingly contrasting actions amount to any kind of protest against the alt-universe of crypto with its promises of a free, unfettered digital future, as well as a form of damnation for the brave new world of digital surveillance (and, in any case, a digital future controlled by a very small number of big global players, either in the free or the controlled world)?
Although we might never completely grasp the reasons driving Hu LeZhi’s actions, one thing is evident: This maneuver has made an indelible mark on the crypto community and others. The impression left by cryptocurrency as it applies to charitable giving is sure to be a topic of conversation for some time, as is the growing sophistication of the digital systems that watch over—better said, watch into—our lives.
At present, Hu LeZhi’s clandestine donations and obscure message are a reminder of the might of digital currencies and the worldwide influence they convey. But they also caution us to be on guard about the unexpected effects of technology in a world that’s changing faster than ever.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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Source: https://nulltx.com/mysterious-programmer-hu-lezhi-makes-bold-move-donates-over-2-7-million-in-eth-and-raises-eyebrows-with-cryptic-message/