Vitalik Buterin Reclaims ‘Onchain Billionaire’ Status as Ether Surges Past $4,200
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again become an onchain billionaire, with his crypto holdings valued at over $1 billion following Ether’s recent surge above the $4,000 mark. This milestone comes amid growing trader optimism about new all-time highs for Ether, which some believe could be just days away.
Vitalik Buterin’s Crypto Portfolio Tops $1 Billion
According to blockchain intelligence firm Arkham, Buterin’s portfolio currently holds approximately 240,042 ETH, alongside smaller positions in tokens like Aave Ethereum (AETHWETH), WhiteRock (WHITE), Moo Deng (MOODENG), and Wrapped Ethereum (WETH). Valued at around $1.04 billion at the time of reporting, this marks Buterin’s return to billionaire status onchain just shortly after Ether reclaiming the $4,000 level for the first time since December 2024.
Ether’s Price Rally and Market Dynamics
Ether surged over 6% on Saturday alone, climbing as high as $4,332 and trading near $4,244 at publication time. Its recent rally coincides with Bitcoin’s slight decline in market share, reflecting a broader rotational interest in Ethereum and altcoins.
Crypto traders are increasingly optimistic about Ether’s near-term price trajectory. Popular trader Ted forecasted that reaching or surpassing Ether’s November 2021 all-time high of $4,878 is “just a matter of days,” fueled in part by growing expectations of a short squeeze that could put $1.35 billion in short positions at risk.
Growing Momentum Behind Ether ETFs
Institutional interest is surging, with Ether-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) outperforming Bitcoin ETFs in recent inflows. Arkham noted $461 million in ETH ETF inflows on a recent day compared to $404 million for BTC. Over the past week, US-based spot Ether ETFs attracted $326.6 million in net inflows, surpassing Bitcoin ETFs’ $253.2 million, indicating increasing institutional demand for Ethereum exposure.
Vitalik’s Billionaire Milestone: A Look Back
Buterin initially became a crypto billionaire at 27 years old during Ether’s rally in May 2021, when ETH first surpassed $3,000. At that time, his holdings of roughly 333,500 ETH were worth around $1 billion, a significant leap from ETH prices below $700 earlier that year.
Despite his large crypto wealth, Buterin has downplayed personal accumulation, revealing in 2018 that he never held more than 0.9% of the total ETH supply and had not approached billionaire status until the token’s massive appreciation.
Buterin’s Caution on ETH Treasury Firms
While public companies accumulating Ether have contributed to ETH’s recent price rally, Buterin has warned against excessive leveraging practices that could jeopardize Ethereum’s future. He cautioned that turning ETH treasuries into an “overleveraged game” risks triggering cascading liquidations and loss of confidence.
Vitalik Buterin’s return to onchain billionaire status highlights Ethereum’s growing maturity and investor confidence amid a renewed bullish phase though his cautionary stance reminds the market to balance optimism with prudent risk management.
