What happened?
Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin sold several unsolicited airdropped meme tokens (SPURDO, MARVIN, DOJO) on Uniswap and received about 22.14 ETH (~$96k). Shortly after, he moved 70 ETH to a new wallet associated with the Methuselah Foundation and routed funds through the privacy protocol Railgun. He’s also been testing privacy tools like Hinkal’s “Invisible Wallet,” continuing his pattern of selling or redirecting tokens sent to his public address.
Who does this affect?
Meme‑coin communities and token teams that used Buterin’s address for publicity face immediate selling pressure and reputational hits. Traders and speculators who chase whale moves can see rapid price swings in these small, hype‑driven tokens. Privacy‑tool developers, charities, and on‑chain analysts are also affected as his transfers highlight both demand for privacy and the flow of charity or redirected funds.
Why does this matter?
On the market side, Buterin’s sales tend to create short‑term downward pressure and volatility in tiny meme tokens that rely on hype and social attention. His steady practice of selling or donating unsolicited tokens reduces the chance that being airdropped to a high‑profile address will be seen as an endorsement, which can cool speculative froth. At the same time, his use of privacy tools and movement of funds through mixers raises questions about traceability and could influence how markets and regulators view big wallets and on‑chain privacy, while broader ETH price action remains sensitive around the $4k–$4.8k resistance zone.