TLDR

  • Buterin disposed of 3,788.57 ETH valued at $7.3 million over a 72-hour period
  • Cumulative ETH sales hit 6,183 ETH, amounting to $13.2 million
  • Ether trades at $1,872, marking a 36% drop over the past month
  • The Ethereum Foundation staked 2,016 ETH as part of its 70,000 ETH staking plan

Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s founder, has sold off 3,788.57 ETH—worth roughly $7.3 million—over three days. On-chain data shows these sales occurred during a broader crypto market downturn. The transactions have drawn attention as Ether trades below $2,000 amid ongoing volatility.

Ethereum Founder Sells 3,700 ETH Over Three Days

On-chain data reveals that Buterin sold 3,788.57 ETH over three days. These transactions were valued at about $7.3 million, with blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain tracking the activity.

Lookonchain later reported total sales rose to 6,183 ETH, with the combined value reaching $13.2 million. The average selling price stood at $2,140 per Ether.

The sales took place during a period of market weakness. At the time of reporting, Ether traded at $1,872, and the asset has faced pressure alongside the wider crypto market.

Ether’s Price Extends Downtrend Below $2,000

Ether has declined steadily in recent months. The token peaked near $5,000 in late August last year and ended 2025 at around $3,000.

In early February, Buterin’s earlier sale coincided with a drop from $2,360 to $1,825—a 22.7% decrease. After the latest transactions, Ether fell more than 5% in a single day.

Over the past week, Ether declined by 4.6%, and it dropped 36% over the past month. It remains below the $2,000 level despite brief recoveries.

Analyst Ali Martinez shared a chart showing a bullish flag formation. However, the inverted structure suggested a possible drop below $1,400, and the analysis circulated widely on social media.

On-Chain Holdings & Institutional Activity

Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham Intelligence monitors Buterin’s addresses. Earlier data showed he held over 240,000 ETH, valued at about $467 million before the recent sales.

Meanwhile, BlackRock adjusted its crypto positions. On-chain records showed withdrawals from IBIT and ETHA ETF-linked addresses, with total holdings now standing at about $53.5 billion.

On Feb. 6, BlackRock sold Bitcoin and Ethereum worth $292 million. The sales followed a seven-day period of price declines, and the firm had earlier reduced exposure before resuming accumulation.

Ethereum Foundation Adopts Staking Strategy

The Ethereum Foundation has begun staking part of its treasury, depositing 2,016 ETH as the first tranche. The foundation plans to stake about 70,000 ETH in total.

All staking rewards will return to the foundation treasury, supporting protocol research, ecosystem growth, and community grants. This approach replaces prior treasury sales with validator rewards.

At current prices, the 70,000 ETH commitment equals about $128 million. The Ether will remain locked in validators rather than entering the open market, and the move comes as Ethereum trades under sustained market pressure.