In 2014, Vitalik Buterin received the Thiel Fellowship. (Yes, that Peter Thiel)

The Thiel Fellowship, also known as the "20 Under 20" fellowship, is a program established by Peter Thiel's foundation to provide financial support and mentorship to talented young entrepreneurs under the age of 22., $100,000 to support their startup over the next 2 years offering guidance and mentorship.

Vitalik Buterin was awarded the Thiel Fellowship for his work on Ethereum, a decentralized blockchain platform.