Ethereum co founder Vitalik Buterin has moved beyond his previously announced plan to sell 16,384 ETH, with on chain data showing total disposals now exceeding 18,684 ETH, valued at more than 38 million dollars. The latest wave of selling unfolded as Ethereum continues to trade well below its former peak above 4,900 dollars reached last summer.
Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain first reported that wallets linked to Buterin had crossed the initial 16,384 ETH threshold he disclosed on January 31, 2026. At the time, he explained that the funds would support open source software and hardware development, privacy initiatives, and security focused infrastructure, describing the move as part of a period of moderate austerity for the Ethereum Foundation.
The selling began in early February and progressed in stages. Initial transactions included nearly 3,000 ETH sold over several days at an average price slightly above 2,200 dollars. Within 24 hours, cumulative sales had more than doubled, and additional withdrawals from lending platforms such as Aave followed later in the month.
The heaviest activity occurred between February 25 and 26, when millions of dollars worth of ETH were sold in a short span, including roughly 2,300 ETH after Ethereum recorded its first 10 percent daily gain in more than four months. Trade data shows that many of the transactions were routed through CoW Protocol, which breaks large orders into smaller swaps to reduce market impact. These cumulative moves pushed total sales well beyond the original 16,384 ETH plan.
Despite the disposals, data from Arkham Intelligence indicates that Buterin still holds more than 240,000 ETH across associated wallets, leaving him among the largest individual holders of the asset.
Ethereum’s price has remained volatile throughout the selling period. According to CoinGecko, ETH is currently trading near 2,050 dollars, up more than 8 percent in the past day but still significantly lower on a monthly and yearly basis.
Analyst Ali Martinez noted that Ethereum’s broader decline has coincided with sizable ETF outflows, with institutional products shedding more than half a million ETH in recent weeks. If downside pressure persists, he identified key levels to monitor near 1,800 dollars, followed by deeper support zones around 1,584, 1,238, and potentially close to 1,089 in a more severe correction scenario.
