Ethereum News Today: Buterin Rejects Meme Coin Hype, Converts Proceeds to ETH and Charity, Boosts Privacy Tools

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again garnered attention for selling airdropped meme coins, converting the proceeds into 22.14 ETH ($96,400) via Uniswap on October 10, 2025. The transactions involved 40.25 billion SPURDO, 10.31 billion MARVIN, and six trillion DOJO tokens, which were swiftly swapped into ETH within minutes. Following the sale, Buterin transferred 70 ETH ($304,000) to a wallet linked to the Methuselah Foundation, which later routed the funds through Railgun, a privacy-focused protocol Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on Uniswap^[1].

This move aligns with Buterin's long-standing policy of selling or donating unsolicited tokens sent to his "vitalik.eth" wallet. Developers often airdrop such tokens to leverage his influence for publicity, a practice Buterin has publicly criticized as speculative and disruptive. His approach mirrors similar actions in 2021 and 2023, when he liquidated tokens like SHIBA INU and AKITA, causing short-term volatility in those projects . SPURDO and MARVIN, inspired by internet culture, saw brief spikes in attention but remain tied to social media-driven trading activity Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on Uniswap^[1].

The sale may exert temporary downward pressure on the affected meme coins, though analysts note the impact is unlikely to extend beyond community reactions. Buterin's consistent strategy underscores his opposition to speculative hype tied to his name or Ethereum's ecosystem. In recent months, he has redirected meme coin proceeds toward charitable causes, including a $1 million donation to his Kanro biotech fund in January 2025 Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on Uniswap^[1].

On-chain activity highlights Buterin's emphasis on privacy, evidenced by his use of Hinkal's "Invisible Wallet" in August 2025 to obscure transaction details. This aligns with broader concerns over blockchain transparency exposing users to risks, particularly with over $4 trillion in assets on-chain Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on Uniswap^[1]. Meanwhile, Ethereum's price has faced short-term weakness, trading at $4,357 as of October 10, 2025, amid analysts warning of potential corrections if the $4,000 support level is breached Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on Uniswap^[1].

Buterin's actions reflect a strategic preference for consolidating value in Ethereum while mitigating the influence of speculative tokens. His approach has been scrutinized by market observers, who note that while his transactions generate short-term noise, they do not directly alter Ethereum's protocol fundamentals Vitalik Buterin Sells Airdropped Meme Coins for $96K, Converts …^[2]. The Ethereum co-founder's ongoing engagement with privacy tools and charitable allocations further illustrates his commitment to balancing transparency with security in the crypto ecosystem.