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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sold approximately 17,000 ETH in February. His holdings dropped from 241,000 to 224,000 ETH, according to Arkham Intelligence. The sales came shortly after Buterin pledged around $45 million in ETH to fund privacy and security initiatives. Ether&#x27;s price has cratered. The token&#x27;s down over 37% in the past month.
Blockchain analytics tracked Buterin selling roughly 2,961 ETH worth $6.6 million over three days earlier in February. He followed that with another $7 million in sales over the next three days, according to Arkham Intelligence data. The transactions were executed through CoW Protocol DEX aggregator using multiple smaller swaps. That&#x27;s a method designed to minimize market impact and slippage. The approach suggests a deliberate, managed reduction. Not a rushed exit.
The timing follows Buterin&#x27;s January announcement. He earmarked 16,384 ETH—valued at approximately $45 million at the time—to support privacy-preserving technologies, open hardware, and secure, verifiable software. He framed the commitment as part of a broader effort. The goal: build an open-source software and hardware stack capable of protecting both personal and public environments. He indicated he&#x27;d take on projects that might otherwise depend on Ethereum Foundation resources.
The moves coincide with significant headwinds for Ethereum. Ether&#x27;s fallen about 60% over the past six months. It&#x27;s currently trading near $1,825. The downturn has affected various stakeholders across the ecosystem. That includes corporate treasuries like Bitmine Immersion Technologies. The company&#x27;s reportedly holding billions in estimated unrealized losses.
The Ethereum Foundation itself is entering what Buterin has described as a phase of &quot;mild austerity.&quot; It marks a strategic shift in the organization&#x27;s financial posture. The extended market downturn has forced the change.
Despite the price weakness, staking activity remains robust. More than 30% of ETH supply is currently staked. That&#x27;s even with staking yields hovering around 2.8%. Strong validator demand suggests continued confidence in Ethereum&#x27;s network fundamentals. Market conditions are challenging token holders. But the fundamentals hold.
Buterin&#x27;s sales appear aimed at funding his stated priorities. The Foundation&#x27;s pulling back on spending. It&#x27;s a calculated rebalancing during a difficult period for the broader Ethereum ecosystem.

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Vitalik Buterin Dumps 17,000 ETH Amid Broader Market Decline

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold 17,000 ETH in February as Ether plunged 37%. The sales fund privacy initiatives amid market downturn.