What's the True Ethereum (ETH) Holding of Vitalik Buterin?

crypthub

about 17 hours ago

Ethereum Holdings Overview

Vitalik Buterin holds 240,000 ETH, valued at $467 million, making him the largest accessible individual Ethereum holder. Institutional entities and exchange wallets dominate overall ETH ownership. His ETH holdings have decreased from 662,810 in 2015 to current levels due to sales and network inflation.

Portfolio Composition and Transactions

Buterin’s portfolio includes smaller positions in WHITE, MOODENG, and KNC tokens, along with Tornado Cash’s TORN. In late 2026, he withdrew 16,384 ETH ($43 million) to support open-source projects, aligning with Ethereum Foundation’s austerity measures. Subsequent ETH sales via CoW Protocol minimized market impact.

Institutional Ownership and Largest Holder

Arkham’s analysis shows institutions like Binance and BlackRock hold significant ETH shares, with ETH2 beacon deposit contract owning over 60% of supply. Rain Lohmus holds 250,000 ETH ($786 million), but funds are inaccessible due to lost private keys.

Wealth Trajectory and Philanthropy

Buterin’s net worth closely mirrors ETH’s price, peaking at $2.09 billion in 2021 before a 75% drop by 2022. His wealth originated from Ethereum’s 2014 pre-sale and a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship. Unlike centralized company founders, his wealth remains liquid and tied directly to Ethereum.