Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently liquidated approximately 2,961 Ether for $6.6 million within a span of three days. This move follows his prior announcement regarding the intention to withdraw some of his holdings.
According to the blockchain tracker Lookonchain, the sales occurred at an average price of around $2,228 per Ether. At the time of this report, Ethereum was trading at approximately $2,130, showing a price drop exceeding 5% within the past 24 hours.
Reports indicate that the sales were conducted through CoW Protocol involving multiple minor transactions aimed at minimizing market impact.
Buterin Allocates $45 Million in Ether for Privacy and Infrastructure Development
Recently, Buterin revealed his commitment to channel 16,384 Ether, approximating $45 million, from his personal investment to foster technologies supporting privacy, open hardware, and reliable software. He noted that these funds would be gradually utilized in the coming years as the Ethereum Foundation embraces a period of ‘mild austerity’ while adhering to its technical objectives.
To quote Buterin:
“Specifically, we are seeking the existence of an open-source, secure and verifiable full stack of software and hardware that can protect both our personal lives and our public environments.”
While the Foundation faced scrutiny for its approach to funding operations through ETH sales, it has started to explore alternative financial strategies, including staking and DeFi-based methods.
Market Sensitivity Rises in Uncertain Times
The recent Ether sales arrive amidst a climate of increased scrutiny towards major asset holders. Declining ETH prices have led to leveraged Ether investors offloading assets for loan repayments, placing additional downward pressure on the market.
In a recent update on social media, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, remarked that the crypto market has been enduring a ‘full-blown crypto winter’ since January 2025. He suggested that we may be getting closer to the resolution of this cycle rather than facing its onset.
