Nick Szabo's "Fed to the Lions" Tweet Stirs Religious and Historical Debate

Cryptocurrency pioneer Nick Szabo has sparked considerable controversy with a recent social media post suggesting that Christians who do not celebrate the Jewish Sabbath are "antisemitic," drawing a stark parallel to ancient Christians who refused to bow to Roman gods. Szabo's provocative tweet concluded with the assertion that both groups "deserve to be fed to the lions."

Szabo, widely recognized for his foundational work on "bit gold" and smart contracts, is a prominent figure in the blockchain space, often engaging in public discourse that extends beyond technology to include historical, economic, and social commentary. His return to X (formerly Twitter) on September 28, 2025, after a period of relative silence, has seen him re-engage with various debates, sometimes with strong and opinionated remarks. Past online activity has shown him to express firm views on political and social issues.

The tweet's analogy references the historical persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire, where refusal to worship Roman deities was considered sedition and could lead to severe penalties, including execution by being fed to wild animals. By linking this historical context to modern Christian practices, Szabo implies a similar level of offense for not observing the Jewish Sabbath.

The Jewish Sabbath, known as Shabbat, is observed from Friday sunset to Saturday night, as commanded in the Torah, emphasizing rest and spiritual devotion. While some Christian denominations, such as Seventh-day Adventists, observe Saturday as the Sabbath, the majority of Christians traditionally observe Sunday as the Lord's Day, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This distinction highlights a key difference in religious practice that Szabo's tweet appears to conflate.

Reactions to Szabo's statement have been varied, with many online users criticizing the extreme nature of the "fed to the lions" remark and the historical comparison. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges public figures face when discussing sensitive religious and historical topics on social media, often leading to intense debate and scrutiny.