Vitalik Buterin Offloads Nearly 3,000 ETH as Ethereum Enters Austerity Phase

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sold close to 3,000 ETH—worth roughly $6.6 million—over several days, shortly after signaling that withdrawals from his personal holdings were imminent. The transactions totaled about 2,961 Ether and were executed at an average price near $2,228 per coin.

On-chain data shows the sales were routed through CoW Protocol and split into multiple smaller swaps, a method typically used to minimize market disruption rather than execute a single large trade. At the time of reporting, Ether was trading around $2,130, down more than 5% over the previous 24 hours amid broader market weakness.

The sales follow Buterin’s recent disclosure that he has earmarked 16,384 ETH—valued at approximately $45 million—for initiatives focused on privacy-preserving tools, open-source hardware, and secure, verifiable software. He said the capital would be deployed gradually over several years as the Ethereum Foundation shifts into what he described as a period of “mild austerity,” while still advancing its core technical roadmap.

Buterin also indicated he plans to personally take on responsibilities that might otherwise require dedicated foundation programs, with the goal of building an open and verifiable technology stack spanning both software and hardware systems.

The transactions come at a sensitive moment for Ethereum markets. Declining ETH prices have forced some leveraged holders to sell assets to cover loans, increasing sell-side pressure. Large-holder activity, particularly from prominent figures, has therefore drawn heightened attention as the market navigates a prolonged downturn.