thecryptobasic.com
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again captured market attention after reducing his holdings in several cryptocurrency tokens.
On Sunday, a wallet associated with Buterin executed sales involving three different tokens. The address sold 1,400 Uniswap (UNI) tokens, 10,000 Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) tokens, and approximately 40 trillion Dogey-Inu (DINU) tokens. In total, the transactions yielded 16,796 USDC.
The movements were first highlighted by blockchain monitoring service Lookonchain and verified through data from Arkham Intelligence. These entities track wallets associated with notable cryptocurrency personalities.
Immediate Market Reaction
Following the sales, the broader market response was mixed. Ethereum (ETH) remained largely unaffected, holding near $3,123. However, the tokens involved showed varying degrees of weakness.
UNI declined by about 1.4% over 24 hours, trading around $5.38. KNC followed a similar path, slipping roughly 1.1% to about $0.2458. DINU experienced the sharpest move, plunging more than 40% within the same period.
Why Buterin’s Wallet Activity Matters
Although the sales were small, they reflect a familiar pattern. Transactions linked to Buterin’s addresses often influence short-term sentiment, particularly for lesser-known or illiquid tokens such as DINU.
Some projects even promote early transfers to his wallet as part of their branding, amplifying the impact of limited selling pressure.
These sales continue a long-standing trend: rather than holding meme tokens sent to him by various projects, sometimes as symbolic “burns”, Buterin typically opts to sell or donate them. Consequently, his wallet activity remains a recurring focal point for traders and analysts.
Earlier Sales and Charitable Use of Proceeds
This is not the first time Buterin has converted meme tokens into charitable contributions. In January, he sold more than $1 million worth of at least 28 meme tokens, including DINU, and donated the proceeds to Kanro, a charity he founded to support pandemic prevention. At the time, the sale triggered a more than 50% drop in DINU’s price.
Last year, Buterin carried out similar actions. In October, he liquidated another $1 million in meme tokens and distributed the proceeds to various charities. In December, he donated 88 ETH to Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, coinciding with a rally in the MOODENG token.
Sunday’s sales represent only a tiny fraction of Buterin’s wealth, with his on-chain net worth estimated at over $765 million. Yet market participants continue to monitor his wallet closely.