Ethereum Market Finds Relief as Buterin Concludes Scheduled Sales

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin concludes pre-announced ETH disposals, eliminating a key source of selling pressure as focus shifts to the network's technical roadmap and 2026 upgrades.

A significant source of predictable selling pressure on Ethereum has been removed. Vitalik Buterin, the blockchain's most prominent co-founder, has completed a multi-week series of ETH disposals that were publicly announced in advance. The conclusion of this program eliminates a clear overhang for the asset, arriving during a period where the project's focus is intensely fixed on its technical roadmap and forthcoming protocol enhancements.

Market Dynamics Shift as Scheduled Liquidation Ends

On-chain analytics confirm that Buterin wrapped up his pre-disclosed selling activity around February 26. The total volume sold reached 19,326 ETH, exceeding the initial figure of 16,384 ETH indicated for withdrawal and liquidation on January 30.

To mitigate market impact, these sales were executed not as a single large order but in smaller batches. The transactions were facilitated via the CoW Protocol using Wrapped Ethereum (WETH), originating from Buterin's Gnosis Safe wallet. According to his statements, the proceeds are earmarked to fund open-source software and hardware development. He framed this as a personal contribution during what he described as a phase of "mild frugality" for the Ethereum Foundation, which is concentrating its resources more heavily on core protocol advancement.

Technical Roadmap Gains Center Stage

The end of these transactions coincides with growing attention on Ethereum's long-term development trajectory. Buterin recently published a proposal aimed at addressing potential future cybersecurity threats from quantum computing. The plan involves evolving the network's signature and data schemes to enhance resilience.

Concurrently, development efforts are accelerating toward two major protocol upgrades slated for 2026. The first, codenamed "Glamsterdam," is targeted for the first half of the year, to be followed by "Hegota." Source code commentary indicates the primary objectives are accelerated transaction processing, an improved user experience, and additional security layers.

Volatility and Price Action Under Scrutiny

Market observers have noted a palpable sense of relief within the Ethereum community following the cessation of sales from Buterin's wallet. Nonetheless, underlying nervousness persists. ETH has exhibited high volatility recently; despite a recovery over the past seven days, its 30-day performance remains significantly negative.

Notable on-chain signals point to elevated volatility, with realized volatility intensity reportedly hitting its highest level since March 2025. Historically, such volatility spikes have sometimes preceded larger price movements. The data also identifies a support zone between $1,800 and $1,900, where substantial buying volume appears to have accumulated lately.

In summary, the immediate "seller overhang" from Buterin's planned divestment is now cleared. This shift is likely to refocus market participants on the project's technical milestones and the path toward the planned 2026 upgrades.