About me
Fabian Vogelsteller is a software developer and entrepreneur whose work has shaped the blockchain and Web3 space. Best known for creating the Ethereum Mist wallet and authoring the ERC-20 token standard, Vogelsteller has helped lay the technical and conceptual foundation for decentralized applications, user-friendly wallets, and tokenized economies.
In Ethereum’s early days, Vogelsteller created the Mist wallet, the first user-facing application for the Ethereum blockchain. It was a major leap forward in usability, allowing users to manage their ether, deploy smart contracts, and explore dApps in a visual environment. Mist transformed the developer-centric blockchain landscape into something far more accessible for everyday users.
Vogelsteller’s most notable contribution is the ERC-20 token standard, which he proposed in 2015 with Vitalik Buterin. This protocol became the backbone of Ethereum’s token ecosystem, enabling interoperability between tokens, wallets, and exchanges. The ERC-20 standard fueled the ICO wave and remains foundational to DeFi, NFT platforms, and countless crypto projects today.
In addition to these innovations, Vogelsteller was a key developer of Web3.js, the JavaScript library that connects web applications to Ethereum smart contracts. This tool empowered a new generation of developers to build dApps using familiar programming languages, accelerating the growth of the decentralized web.
Fabian's vision goes beyond technical innovation. A passionate advocate for decentralization and open-source principles, he believes in a Web3 that empowers users with identity, ownership, and creativity. In 2019, this vision culminated in the co-founding of LUKSO, a Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for the social, creative, and cultural economies.
LUKSO introduces Universal Profiles, a new kind of blockchain-based account built on smart contract standards. Unlike traditional wallets, Universal Profiles are modular and programmable and very human friendly. They can store digital assets, manage permissions, hold credentials, and run embedded logic. These profiles serve as decentralized identities for individuals, DAOs, companies, and even AI agents — bringing human-centric design into the heart of blockchain systems.
Building on this foundation, Vogelsteller is now creating Universal Everything, the primary interface for Universal Profiles and the social layer of the New Web3. Universal Everything is not just an app, but a dynamic environment where users interact through their profiles, display digital assets, message each other, and run mini-apps. It blends Web2 familiarity with Web3 capabilities, offering a seamless experience that bridges the old internet with the new.
In all of his work, Vogelsteller aims to make blockchain more inclusive, expressive, and meaningful. Whether through standards like ERC-20, tools like Web3.js, or platforms like LUKSO and Universal Everything, he continues to lead the way toward a Web3 where identity is owned by users and the internet becomes a canvas for collective creativity.
