Ethereum Co-Founder’s Fortune Surges Amid ETF Inflows and Market Momentum
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has regained his onchain billionaire status after Ether’s price surged past $4,200, marking its highest level in eight months. Blockchain analytics show that Buterin currently holds 240,042 ETH, alongside smaller allocations in assets like Aave Ethereum, Wrapped Ethereum, and WhiteRock, bringing his portfolio value to approximately $1.04 billion.
The milestone comes amid growing optimism in the cryptocurrency market, particularly for Ether (ETH), which recently reached $4,332 before slightly retracing. Traders are now watching closely for a possible push toward the November 2021 all-time high of $4,878.
Several market analysts believe Ether’s rally is far from over. “It’s just a matter of days now,”, suggesting that a climb toward $4,500 could trigger a $1.35 billion short squeeze, according to derivatives data from CoinGlass.
The optimism is supported by strong inflows into U.S.-based spot Ether ETFs, which saw $326.6 million in net purchases over the past five trading days. By comparison, Bitcoin ETFs attracted $253.2 million in the same period. ETF momentum is seen as a key driver behind Ether’s current strength, with recent daily flows even surpassing those of Bitcoin.
Buterin’s Billionaire Journey
Buterin first entered the billionaire ranks in May 2021, when ETH broke above $3,000, holding around 333,500 ETH at the time. However, he has been transparent about his holdings, once noting that he never controlled more than 0.9% of the total ETH supply.
Despite his renewed financial standing, Buterin has cautioned against overleveraging trends in the Ethereum ecosystem, particularly the rise of treasury-based projects. “If treasuries led to the downfall of ETH, my guess would be they turned it into an overleveraged game,” he recently warned.
With rising institutional interest, strong ETF inflows, and bullish sentiment across the market, Ether’s path to retesting its all-time high now appears closer than it has in years.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.