Ethereum News Today: Vitalik Buterin Converts Meme Coins to ETH, Channels Proceeds to Social Causes

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, executed a series of on-chain transactions in October 2025, selling approximately $96,400 worth of meme coins and converting the proceeds into 22.14 ETH. The transactions, conducted via Uniswap's Universal Router, involved 40.25 billion SPURDO, 10.31 billion MARVIN, and six trillion DOJO tokens Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1]. These tokens, airdropped to his "vitalik.eth" wallet, were liquidated within minutes, reflecting his established practice of offloading unsolicited tokens to avoid enabling speculative hype Vitalik Buterin Sells Airdropped Meme Coins for $96K, Converts …^[2].

Following the sale, Buterin transferred 70 ETH (valued at $304,000) to a wallet linked to the Methuselah Foundation through Railgun, a privacy-focused protocol. This move aligns with his broader strategy of consolidating value in ETH while redirecting meme coin energy toward social impact initiatives. For instance, in October 2024, he donated 10 billion tokens to an anti-airborne-disease technology project and contributed animal-themed tokens to the Effective Altruism Funds' Animal Welfare Fund Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1].

Buterin's actions reinforce a long-standing pattern of divesting meme coins, a practice observed in 2021 and 2023 when he sold or donated tokens like SHIBA INU and AKITA. These transactions historically triggered short-term price volatility in the affected tokens, though market watchers note the impact is typically limited to community reactions rather than systemic shifts Vitalik Buterin Sells Airdropped Meme Coins for $96K, Converts …^[2]. SPURDO and MARVIN, both community-driven meme projects, saw brief spikes in attention post-creation but remain heavily influenced by social media trends Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1].

In addition to the meme coin sales, Buterin tested Hinkal's "Invisible Wallet" in August 2025, a privacy tool designed to obscure on-chain activity. The trial, which involved a 0.01 ETH transaction, highlights his growing emphasis on privacy amid rising crypto-related hacks-$163 million in August 2025 alone Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1]. Hinkal's CEO described blockchain transparency as a "bug," arguing that privacy-preserving tools are critical to protecting large holders from surveillance risks Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1].

Ethereum's price performance in late 2025 reflected mixed signals. ETH fell 0.4% to $4,337.10 in 24 hours, with a 3% weekly decline, despite a 6.38% rise in trading volume to $43.75 billion. Analysts identified the $4,000–$4,800 range as a "danger zone" due to historical sell pressure. While ETH remains in a long-term uptrend, short-term momentum weakens, with analysts warning of a potential correction to $3,400 if key support levels fail Vitalik Buterin Dumps Free Meme Coins Again, Cashes $96K on …^[1].

Buterin's consistent approach to managing unsolicited tokens underscores his commitment to Ethereum's ecosystem. By converting meme coins into ETH and utilizing privacy tools, he navigates the challenges of high-profile on-chain visibility while advocating for responsible crypto practices. His actions also highlight the broader debate between speculative assets and utility-driven cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, which powers smart contracts and DeFi infrastructure .