When Ethereum’s co-founder moves a large amount of ETH, the market notices immediately. In February 2026, on-chain tracking reports showed that Vitalik Buterin sold around 8,800 ETH in multiple transactions, with the total value widely estimated at roughly $16M–$18M+ depending on the pricing window used.
The timing drew even more attention because Ethereum had already been under pressure, and traders were debating whether founder-related wallet activity was adding to short-term bearish sentiment.
If you want to track ETH and the broader crypto market in real time, you can monitor prices on Tapbit Price.
What Happened: The February ETH Sales
Multiple crypto news outlets and on-chain trackers pointed to a two-part selling pattern in February:
- Earlier sale: roughly 6,958 ETH (reported around $14.78M)
- Later sale: another 1,869 ETH (reported around $3.67M) over a short window
Combined, that puts the month’s reported total near 8,800 ETH, which is why this number quickly spread across exchange blogs and market commentary.
It’s important to note that the exact USD total can vary by source because some outlets use the transaction-time price, while others recalculate using later market prices.
Did Vitalik’s Sales Cause ETH to Drop?
This is the key question — and the honest answer is: not necessarily on their own.
ETH was already in a weak market environment, and the broader crypto market had been under pressure. However, founder wallet activity can still amplify market reactions because:
- It affects trader psychology (“insider signal” concerns)
- It creates short-term headline risk
- It can trigger momentum selling in a fragile market
So while it’s too simplistic to say “Vitalik sold, therefore ETH fell,” these transactions clearly became part of the bearish narrative.
Why Might Vitalik Be Selling ETH?
There is no single confirmed explanation tied to every transaction, but recent public reporting gives useful context.
Earlier in 2026, Vitalik said he had earmarked a large amount of ETH (16,384 ETH, roughly $45M at the time) to support open-source security, privacy, and verifiable infrastructure over the coming years. Some reports also cited his comments about exploring decentralized staking strategies so staking rewards could support those goals.
In other words, the market may be seeing a mix of:
- Funding for public-goods and open-source work
- Treasury/personal portfolio management
- Routine liquidity actions in a volatile market
That context matters because wallet sales do not always imply a bearish long-term view on Ethereum.
Why This Matters More in 2026
The Ethereum market is in a sensitive phase. Traders are not just watching price — they are watching:
- Ethereum Foundation strategy
- Staking economics
- ETF flows and institutional positioning
- Large-holder wallet activity
At the same time, the Ethereum Foundation has announced a treasury staking initiative, saying it plans to stake approximately 70,000 ETH with rewards directed back to the EF treasury. That adds a second narrative: while founder wallets are selling in some periods, the Foundation is also increasing long-term on-chain yield participation.
This creates a more nuanced picture than simple “sell = bearish” headlines.
What Traders Should Watch Next
- On-chain wallet flows: Are more founder-linked or major-holder sales coming?
- ETH price reaction zones: Does ETH stabilize after the headline-driven volatility?
- EF treasury staking rollout: How quickly does the Foundation scale toward its 70,000 ETH target?
- Market context: Is ETH moving because of founder activity, or because the whole market is risk-off?
For most traders, the biggest mistake is overreacting to a single headline. Founder sales can matter, but they are only one input in a much larger macro + on-chain + sentiment equation.
How to Follow ETH and the Broader Crypto Market on Tapbit
Whether you trade ETH directly or just want to track market momentum, it helps to monitor prices and risk conditions in one place. You can explore the market on Tapbit, create an account at Tapbit Register, or sign in via Tapbit Login.
Final Thoughts
Vitalik Buterin’s February ETH sales became a major market story because they happened during an already weak period for Ethereum. The headline number — 8,800 ETH — is large enough to attract attention, but the bigger takeaway is how quickly the market builds narratives around founder activity.
For traders, the best approach is to separate signal from noise: watch the on-chain data, follow official Ethereum Foundation updates, and avoid making decisions based on social-media panic alone.
