Addresses associated with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin have recently seen frequent large transfers and sales. According to monitoring by the on-chain analytics platform Onchain Lens, in the past 2.5 days ending February 24, Vitalik’s address sold a total of 3,765 ETH, exchanging them for approximately $7.08 million in USDC. Extending the timeline to the entire month of February, since February 2, this address has sold a cumulative 10,723 ETH, with a total value of about $21.74 million and an average sale price of $2,027. These transactions have come at a time when the crypto market is under broad pressure, sparking widespread discussion in the community about the short-term outlook for ETH price.
Event Review: On-Chain Data Reveals Sale Details
Although Vitalik Buterin has repeatedly stated that his ETH sales are mainly to support ecosystem projects or charitable causes, the market tends to remain highly vigilant about "founder selling" activity.
The address involved in this sale is labeled 0xfeb0…03b2. Detailed data shows that within a very short window (2.5 days), this address transferred thousands of ETH and swapped them for stablecoins via on-chain transactions. Looking at the past month, the frequency and volume of sales from Vitalik-linked addresses have clearly increased. In today’s macro environment, this undoubtedly adds extra narrative pressure to the already fatigued ETH price.
Real-Time Market Data: ETH Price Status
As of February 24, 2026, Gate market data shows Ethereum (ETH) is consolidating near a key psychological level. Currently, ETH is priced at $1,827.96, with a 24-hour trading volume of $434.46M. Over the past 24 hours, ETH price has changed by -2.04%.
Zooming out, ETH is facing both significant macro and micro pressures:
- Historical comparison: The current price is still far from the all-time high of $4,946.05 and has broken through several technical support levels.
- Key support and resistance: In the past 24 hours, ETH hit a high of $1,935.37 and a low of $1,811.57, reflecting intense battles between bulls and bears in the $1,800–$1,900 range.
- Market cap performance: Ethereum’s current market cap stands at $231.09B, with a market share of 9.70%. Despite solid fundamentals as the second-largest blockchain network, sentiment indicators show a prevailing "bearish" outlook.
Multi-Dimensional Analysis: The Ripple Effects of Vitalik’s Sales
1. Psychological Impact Outweighs Actual Selling Pressure
On-chain data indicates that while Vitalik has sold tens of millions of dollars worth of ETH, this represents a small fraction compared to Ethereum’s massive daily trading volume (just the past 24 hours saw $434.46M traded). The real issue is the psychological blow to retail investors from "founder selling." In a downtrend, such news is often interpreted as a negative signal, intensifying market fear and triggering panic selling.
2. Whale Activity and Market Accumulation
Interestingly, the market is not one-sided. Despite the pressure from founder sales, on-chain data shows that when ETH dropped near $1,800, some whale addresses began accumulating significantly. Several newly created whale wallets have recently absorbed large amounts of ETH. This suggests that while short-term sentiment is influenced by headlines, long-term capital still believes in ETH’s value at current levels, viewing the price as an attractive allocation opportunity.
3. Macro Environment and Capital Flows
Beyond Vitalik’s personal actions, ETH’s price is more heavily influenced by macro capital flows. According to Gate Ventures’ weekly report, last week saw significant net outflows from ETH spot ETFs, with a single-week net outflow reaching $123 million. This aligns with rising market fear, as the Fear & Greed Index has dropped to 5 (extreme fear). With ETF funds continuing to exit, any negative news tends to be amplified by the market.
ETH Price Trend Outlook
Based on the latest on-chain data and price prediction models from Gate, here’s a neutral projection for ETH’s future performance:
Short-Term Support and Resistance
ETH has now fallen below the $1,900 psychological threshold. The next key support is near $1,770, which is calculated based on the on-chain Realised Price—a crucial turnover region. If this level is breached, the market may further test liquidity in the $1,520–$1,450 range. Resistance above is at the $2,000 round number and near the $2,250 midline of the Bollinger Bands.
Medium-Term Price Forecast (2026)
Factoring in expectations for macroeconomic recovery and the lagging effects after the halving, the model predicts Ethereum’s average price in 2026 will be $1,903.51. Throughout the year, the price may bottom out at $1,104.03 during bearish sentiment, and rebound to $2,474.56 if positive catalysts or major ecosystem breakthroughs occur.
Long-Term Outlook
For long-term investors, the current price has entered a historically undervalued zone. Projections indicate that by 2031, with explosive growth in applications and ongoing deflationary expectations, Ethereum (ETH) could reach $5,043.93. Compared to today’s price of $1,827.96, the potential implied return is notable, but investors must be prepared to weather several years of volatility.
Conclusion
Although Vitalik Buterin’s ETH sales have drawn short-term attention, mature investors should rationally distinguish between founder fund management and project fundamentals. The long-term trajectory of ETH price still hinges on network upgrades, Layer 2 adoption, and growth in on-chain applications.
For Gate users, the current market is in a phase of extreme fear, which often breeds opportunity. Short-term traders should closely watch the fate of the $1,800 support level, while long-term investors may consider dollar-cost averaging or waiting for signs of market stabilization.
