Vitalik buterin, a key figure in ethereum, selling a significant amount of eth could signal a lack of short-term confidence to some investors, potentially creating selling pressure.
The information is from on-chain analytics and reported by multiple crypto news outlets, making it a reliable indicator of activity.
While the sales are for ecosystem development, large liquidations by a prominent founder can trigger fear and selling among retail investors, especially during broader market corrections.
The immediate market reaction to large, concentrated selling often occurs within days or weeks.
Cover image via U.Today Add as a preferred source on Google News Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has accelerated his selling spree. Advertisement He has now offloaded nearly $7.3 million worth of Ether in just 72 hours, according to on-chain analytics. Data from the blockchain tracking firm Lookonchain reveals that Buterin sold a total of 3,788.57 ETH over the past three days. This aggressive liquidation comes amidst a broader market correction, fueling debate over whether the founder’s actions are contributing to the asset's bearish momentum. HOT Stories Bitcoin Breaks Below Critical $63,000 Support Crypto Market Review: Ethereum (ETH) Must Protect $1,885, Is XRP Close to Losing $1? Shiba Inu: Why Outlook Is Shifting The "mild austerity" sell-off Earlier this month, Buterin announced that the Ethereum Foundation and his affiliated entities (such as Kanro) would be entering a period of "mild austerity." Advertisement This would require the liquidation of assets to fund ecosystem development, research grants, and open-source software initiatives. However, the pace of the sales has caught traders off guard. Lookonchain noted that Buterin is "selling ETH faster again," having already disposed of over 8,800 ETH (approx. $16–18 million) since the beginning of the month. Advertisement You Might Also Like Fri, 02/20/2026 - 19:11 Ethereum Buterin Refuses to 'Let Ethereum Die' By Alex Dovbnya Just days prior to this latest 3,700 ETH sale, Buterin offloaded a separate batch of 1,869 ETH ($3.67M), which coincided with a 5.7% drop in Ethereum's price from $1,988 to $1,875. Large transfers from Vitalik-labeled wallets often spook retail investors who interpret them as a lack of confidence in near-term price action. Despite the heavy selling, Buterin remains one of the largest individual holders of the asset. On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence indicates that his main wallet still holds over 224,000 ETH, valued at roughly $429 million. #Ethereum News