Ethereum is getting a lot of heat for being "pre-mined". What stops someone from running an alt-ethereum blockchain which is not pre-mined? AKA a non-pre-mined Ethereum fork?
2. The usefulness of contracts involving money is directly proportional to the stability and aggregate value of the base currency, and a copycat will not be able to match the official net on this measure.
3. The grim trigger equillibrium would doom such a blockchain if it becomes successful (look up on wikipedia)
4. There would be no dev team to support ongoing development if it overtakes the main net.
5. Network effects