Will Ethereum Price Crash If Vitalik Buterin Keeps Selling? February's $16M Sales Sparks Market Concerns
Yahoo Finance·2026-02-23 11:04

Core Insights - Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold approximately $3.67 million worth of Ether over the weekend, raising concerns about potential price declines below the $1,500 level if selling pressure continues [1][7]. Sales Activity - Buterin sold 1,869 ETH in the last 48 hours, coinciding with a drop in Ethereum's price from $1,988 to $1,875, a decline of about 5.7% [2]. - Since early February, Buterin has sold around 8,800 ETH, valued at approximately $16 million at current prices [2]. - Earlier in February, he sold nearly 3,000 ETH for about $6.6 million over several days [3]. Market Impact - Despite the sales, analysts suggest that the scale of Buterin's transactions is relatively small compared to overall market liquidity, with Ethereum's daily trading volumes often reaching around $17 billion [4]. - Buterin's sales this month represent about 0.1% of a typical day's trading volume, indicating limited direct impact on price [5]. - However, the psychological effect of these sales may lead to weaker market sentiment, prompting more traders to exit [5]. Current Holdings - Buterin remains one of Ethereum's largest individual holders, currently owning approximately 224,104 ETH, valued at around $439 million at the current trading price of about $1,950 [6].