worldcoinindex.com
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.