Key Insights
- Vitalik Buterin’s recent ETH sales sparked fear, but similar crypto news bits in the past did not cause lasting damage.
- The Ethereum Foundation has sold ETH many times before to fund operations without crashing prices.
- History shows most panic around founder sales is driven by emotion, not long-term fundamentals.
Recent blockchain data shows that Vitalik Buterin sold a small portion of his Ethereum in early February. Soon after this crypto news surfaced, social media began reacting.
Meawhile, many posts said this was a bad sign. However, this is not the first time this has happened. Similar stories have appeared many times in the past. Each time, fear spreads first. Facts usually come later.
Buterin’s Recent ETH Sale Makes Big Crypto News
As per the latest crypto news, Vitalik Buterin sold 211.84 ETH for around $500,000 in USDC on Feb. 2. Over the next eight hours, more transactions followed. In total, close to 493 ETH, worth about $1.16 million, was converted into stablecoins.
Before these sales, another move drew attention. Around 5,000 ETH, worth nearly $12 million, was wrapped into WETH. This was done using CoW Protocol, which is often used for large trades with lower price impact.
When traders saw these transfers, concern grew quickly. Many posts suggested that Buterin was preparing to sell much more. Some called it a “dump.” Others said this meant Ethereum was in trouble.
But these numbers need context.
Ethereum trades billions of dollars every day. Compared to that, one or two million dollars is small. It does not control the market. It does not decide long-term trends.
Crypto news noted that Vitalik Buterin has also sold ETH many times in the past. Most of those sales were linked to donations, research funding, and public projects. This pattern has been visible for years.
Meanwhile, there is no public evidence showing that these recent sales were done to hurt the market. They were made through tools designed to reduce sudden price drops. That suggests careful planning, not panic.
Ethereum Foundation’s Past Sales and Price Behavior
Buterin is not the only one who has sold ETH over time. The Ethereum Foundation has also sold ETH regularly to fund development and operations.
As per crypto news of 2025, the foundation sold around 10,000 ETH, worth more than $40 million at the time. In earlier years, it sold hundreds or thousands of ETH in smaller batches.
Even in 2024, funds worth $94 million were sent to Kraken. A typical, sell-specific behavior.
Each time, similar reactions appeared. Traders worried. Social media turned negative. Some predicted major crashes.
But in most cases, prices stabilized after a short period.
Meanwhile, several studies tracking these sales showed that Ethereum crypto often recovered within days or weeks. Sometimes prices dipped first. But lasting damage was rare.
Meanwhile, this happens because ETH prices are driven by larger forces. These include interest rates, global markets, liquidity, network activity, and investor confidence. One wallet selling does not change all of that.
Foundation sales are usually planned in advance. They are used to pay developers, fund security work, and support long-term projects. They are part of normal operations, not emergency actions.
Crypto News: Connecting Ethereum Sale and Trader Mindset
Buterin’s recent sale fits a pattern that has existed for years. A known wallet moves funds. Social media reacts. Fear spreads. Then the market looks at the bigger picture.
So far, nothing in this crypto news bit suggests that this sale reflects a loss of trust in Ethereum. There is no proof of hidden exits.
There is no sign of market manipulation or any public evidence of wrongdoing. It looks like routine fund management during a weak market period.