Ethereum News Today: Buterin's Meme Coin Sales Highlight Ethereum's Store-of-Value Appeal

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (ETH), has continued his pattern of converting meme coins received as airdrops into Ethereum, a move that has sparked debate within the crypto community. According to on-chain analytics from Lookonchain and Nansen, Buterin recently sold 50.54 billion ESTEE tokens for 116,306 USDC stablecoin and 340 LDOG tokens for 5.2 ETH, as reported by Coingape. These transactions follow similar actions in September 2025, where he exchanged 150 billion Puppies tokens for 28.58 ETH and 1 billion ERC20 tokens for $13,889 in USDC Vitalik Buterin Dumps New Meme Coin Batch for Ethereum^[1]. The proceeds from these sales have consistently been converted into Ethereum, reflecting a strategic preference for the asset over speculative meme tokens.

Buterin's approach has drawn mixed reactions. Some market observers argue that his sales signal a lack of support for meme coins, potentially triggering short-term price declines. For instance, the ERC20 token dropped 70% immediately after his transactions were confirmed, echoing the market impact of his 2021 SHIB selloff Shiba Inu Shocker: Vitalik Buterin Dumps 2 Meme Coins Again^[4]. Others contend that converting to Ethereum is a rational move given its relative stability compared to the volatility of meme coins. At press time, Ethereum traded at $4,337.10, with a 0.4% 24-hour decline, but trading volume had increased by 6.38% to $43.75 billion Vitalik Buterin Dumps New Meme Coin Batch for Ethereum^[1]. Analysts note that Ethereum's role as a store of value is gaining traction, with figures like Robert Kiyosaki advocating for its inclusion alongside Bitcoin, gold, and silver in diversified portfolios Vitalik Buterin Dumps New Meme Coin Batch for Ethereum^[1].

The Ethereum co-founder's history with meme coins includes notable episodes such as the 2021 disposal of 7 billion SHIB tokens, where he donated $1 billion to India's COVID-19 relief efforts and burned the remainder. This pattern of rapid exits from airdropped meme tokens underscores a consistent strategy of avoiding long-term exposure to speculative assets. On-chain data from Onchain Lens confirms that Buterin's transactions are typically swift, with minimal retention of meme coins in his wallet Shiba Inu Shocker: Vitalik Buterin Dumps 2 Meme Coins Again^[4].

Market participants remain divided on the implications. While some view Buterin's actions as a negative signal for meme coins, others highlight Ethereum's growing appeal as a hedge against volatility. The broader crypto ecosystem has also seen a shift toward utility-driven projects, with Ethereum-based tokens like Mutuum Finance (MUTM) attracting attention for their real-world applications . However, the immediate impact of Buterin's sales on meme coin prices remains a focal point for traders monitoring social media and on-chain activity for sentiment shifts.

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