Vitalik Buterin’s February ETH Sales Top $34.9M as Ethereum Rallies Nearly 10%

Vitalik Buterin has reduced his ether holdings further in February, selling a total of 17,196 ETH worth roughly $34.96 million, according to onchain data highlighted by Arkham and flagged by Lookonchain.

The cumulative amount now exceeds the 16,384 ETH he previously disclosed withdrawing on Jan. 30. At the time, that withdrawal—valued at around $45 million—was described as his “own share of the austerity,” aligning with the Ethereum Foundation’s push toward long-term sustainability and sharper focus on core protocol development.

Sales Outpace Initial Allocation

The latest 17,196 ETH sold marks a 4.9% increase over the 16,384 ETH Buterin initially set aside. He previously indicated the capital would be deployed gradually over several years to support the creation of an open-source, secure, and verifiable technology stack. That vision spans industries such as finance, communication platforms, governance systems, operating systems, secure hardware, and even biotech.

A Break From Past Market Patterns

Historically, Buterin’s ETH sales have coincided with short-term price weakness. For example, during an earlier transaction involving 6,958 ETH sold for $14.78 million, ether dropped 22.7%, sliding from $2,360 to $1,825. In another instance, the sale of 1,869 ETH for $3.67 million preceded a 5.7% decline, with ETH falling from $1,988 to $1,875 over two days.

This time, however, the market reaction has diverged.

Ether Climbs Despite Selling Pressure

In the past 24 hours, Ethereum’s native token ETH surged nearly 10%, outperforming major digital assets including Bitcoin, XRP, and BNB, which recorded more modest single-digit gains amid a broader market rebound.

ETH rebounded from a daily low of $1,816 to reach as high as $2,100 suggesting that current bullish momentum may be absorbing sell-side pressure more effectively than in previous months.

While Buterin’s transactions remain closely watched by traders, the latest price action signals a market that appears increasingly resilient—even in the face of high-profile insider sales.