-
On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence shows 17,196 ETH sold, reducing holdings by about 7%.
-
Proceeds included 500,000 USDC sent to Kanro after a trade via CoW Protocol and Wintermute.
-
Sales follow Buterin’s pattern of funding philanthropy and core Ethereum development during market downturns.
Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin sold more than $30 million worth of ether this month, according to Arkham Intelligence. The sales occurred on-chain throughout January and early February. They aimed to support the Ethereum Foundation during a period Buterin described as “mild austerity,” while also funding his biotech nonprofit.
ETH Sales Reduce Holdings but Fund Core Priorities
Arkham data shows Buterin sold 17,196 ETH this month, worth roughly $35 million. As a result, his ETH holdings declined from over 240,000 at the start of 2026 to about 224,000 ETH. This represents roughly seven percent of his current ETH stack.
Notably, Buterin’s ETH holdings peaked near 663,000 ETH in 2015. Since then, his balance has fallen by more than sixty percent. However, Arkham notes that the reductions align with long-term funding commitments rather than personal spending.
Buterin previously stated the sales reflect his “own share of the austerity.” These comments followed a recent Ethereum price drop below $2,000. The proceeds support Ethereum’s long-term sustainability and core protocol development.
On-Chain Transfers Reveal Destination of Funds
Arkham tracked a major transaction announced by Buterin on January 30. He sold 16,384 ETH, with the movement becoming visible on-chain days later. The transaction originated from a Gnosis Safe Proxy wallet.
Additionally, on February 2, Buterin transferred 211.841 wrapped ETH into CoW Protocol. The trade routed through Wintermute. It resulted in exactly 500,000 USDC sent to Kanro’s wallet. Kanro is a biotech charity founded by Buterin. It funds open-source biomedical research and addresses existential risks, according to public disclosures.
Sales Follow Longstanding Pattern of Donations
Arkham reports that Buterin still holds about $450 million in ETH and AETHWETH. These assets remain split across direct holdings and positions deposited on Aave. Historically, Buterin has linked large token sales to charitable efforts.
In January 2025, he sold meme tokens for $2.5 million, donating the proceeds to Kanro. In 2021, he donated $1.2 billion in SHIB tokens to India’s COVID relief efforts. According to Arkham, the latest ETH sales follow that established pattern.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
ETH 15-minute gain of 0.67%: On-chain capital structure adjustment and derivatives long liquidation convergence driving price movement
2026-03-20 07:30 to 2026-03-20 07:45 (UTC), ETH recorded a return rate of +0.67% within 15 minutes, with a price range of 2136.67 - 2153.1 USDT and a volatility of 0.77%. The short-term price surge was accompanied by a rapid increase in trading volume, rising market attention, and intensified fluctuations.
The main driver of this movement is the concentrated transfer of large on-chain funds and the adjustment of capital structure between spot and derivatives markets. Data shows that early ICO holders transferred nearly 40,000 ETH (approximately $119 million) to
GateNews27m ago
A certain whale bought 17,000 ETH again 8 hours ago, with cumulative purchases exceeding 100,000 in the past 10 days.
Gate News reported that on March 20, according to monitoring by crypto analyst Remnants of Embers, a whale or institution that has been continuously accumulating ETH purchased 17,084.3 ETH again 8 hours ago, with a transaction amount of approximately $36.75 million. Since March 10, the entity has cumulatively purchased approximately 103,300 ETH through 5 addresses, with a transaction amount of approximately $222 million, at an average price of approximately $2,151.
GateNews1h ago
Ethereum TVL Continues to Lead L1 Track: DeFi, Institutional Capital, and Network Effects Build Moat
Ethereum maintains its leading position in the L1 blockchain market with its superior Total Value Locked (TVL), continuously attracting concentrated capital and users. Its mature smart contracts and decentralized architecture deepen the ecosystem, attracting institutional participation. Although other chains have advantages in efficiency and cost, Ethereum still leads significantly in stability and application composability. Future competition will focus on performance and application scenarios.
GateNews2h ago
Russian $3 Million Crypto Scam Exposed: Celebrities and Boxers Among Victims, Mastermind Sentenced to 6 Years
A Russian businessman was sentenced to six years for cryptocurrency investment fraud involving over $3 million, with victims including renowned actors and boxers. The fraud scheme employed a classic Ponzi structure, and prosecutors vow to intensify crackdowns on such crimes. Market participants are urged to remain vigilant against promises of high returns and scrutinize fund flows.
GateNews2h ago
Ethereum Whale's Misoperation Causes $50 Million to Evaporate Instantly! Arbitrageur Rakes in $35 Million
An Ethereum user mistakenly exchanged 50 million USD in stablecoins for only 37,000 USD worth of Aave tokens in a token swap, sparking widespread discussion due to insufficient liquidity and extreme slippage. The incident exposed flaws in DeFi trading mechanisms, prompting Aave and CoW Swap to propose improvement measures. Responsibility disputes continue, with experts calling for optimized system design to better protect users.
GateNews2h ago
BTC and ETH options worth $1.97 billion in notional value expire and settle today
Gate News Alert: As of March 20, according to Greeks.live data, 23,000 BTC options will expire today with a Put Call Ratio of 0.88, a max pain level of $70,000, and a notional value of $1.6 billion. Additionally, 176,000 ETH options will expire today with a Put Call Ratio of 1.04, a max pain level of $2,150, and a notional value of $370 million. Next Friday (March 27) will see the quarterly expiration.
GateNews2h ago
