Coin Newsweek – February 26, 2026 – Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has executed a near-complete liquidation of the ETH holdings in his publicly tracked “0xfeb” wallet, selling approximately 19,318 Ethereum tokens and leaving a mere 8.6 ETH behind. The sales, monitored and reported by blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens, represent one of the most significant wallet-level transactions involving the Ethereum creator in recent months.
According to the on-chain data, Buterin cashed out the substantial position at an average price of $2,004 per ETH, generating approximately $38.7 million in total proceeds. The sales occurred over a period of time, with the wallet’s balance gradually diminishing until reaching its current nominal level.
This move follows Buterin’s earlier announcement regarding a strategic plan to sell 16,384 ETH from his holdings. The original plan, which he disclosed publicly, was positioned as a long-term strategy to fund various projects and initiatives aligned with Ethereum’s ecosystem development. However, the final tally of approximately 19,318 ETH sold suggests that Buterin may have ultimately exceeded his original target, liquidating more than initially intended.
The “0xfeb” wallet has been closely watched by the crypto community since Buterin identified it as one of his addresses. Transactions from known founder wallets are always subject to intense scrutiny, as market participants attempt to interpret their significance for price direction and founder sentiment.
At the $2,004 average sale price, Buterin managed to execute the liquidations during a period when Ethereum was trading above the psychologically significant $2,000 level. This timing allowed him to capture value while the market showed relative strength, though the subsequent price action has seen ETH move higher.
The reduction to just 8.6 ETH effectively empties this particular wallet of any meaningful position. Whether Buterin maintains other wallets with larger holdings remains a matter of speculation, as founders often distribute assets across multiple addresses for security and operational reasons.
Buterin’s relationship with his personal ETH holdings has long been a topic of discussion in the crypto community. Unlike some founders who accumulate large personal positions, Buterin has been known to periodically sell portions of his holdings, often citing charitable giving, project funding, or personal financial management as reasons.
The sales come at a time when Ethereum is navigating a complex market environment. While the broader crypto market has shown signs of recovery, institutional flows, regulatory developments, and technical upgrades continue to influence price dynamics. Buterin’s liquidations add another data point to this intricate picture.
For market observers, the completion of these sales removes a potential overhang that had existed since Buterin announced his intention to sell. With the wallet now nearly empty, the immediate selling pressure from this specific source has been eliminated.
The $38.7 million generated from the sales provides Buterin with substantial liquidity to deploy toward his stated objectives. Whether those funds flow into ecosystem projects, charitable causes, or other initiatives will likely become visible through subsequent on-chain activity.
Onchain Lens’s monitoring capabilities highlight the transparency inherent in blockchain technology. Even transactions involving one of the industry’s most prominent figures are visible and trackable in real-time, allowing the community to observe movements that would remain private in traditional financial systems.
For Ethereum holders, Buterin’s continued liquidation of personal holdings carries mixed implications. Some view it as a founder monetizing their creation, which is natural and expected. Others interpret it as a potential signal about his near-term price expectations, though Buterin has consistently framed his sales around personal and philanthropic needs rather than market timing.
The fact that Buterin sold above his original 16,384 ETH target may reflect changing personal circumstances, additional funding requirements, or simply opportunistic execution as prices moved favorably. Without direct commentary from Buterin himself, the precise reasoning remains speculative.
As Ethereum continues to evolve through technical upgrades and growing adoption, Buterin’s personal financial decisions will likely remain a topic of community interest. However, the completion of this significant liquidation event removes one source of uncertainty regarding founder selling pressure.
Sources: Onchain Lens / Blockchain transaction data
Disclaimer: This content is for market information only and is not investment advice.
