‘End of an era’ as Ethereum OG exits after $274mln sale – Details

While the broader market fixates on daily price fluctuations, one of Ethereum’s most patient OGs has just executed their final act.

After nearly a decade of holding through the industry’s most volatile cycles, the legendary whale, known for amassing a staggering 154,076 ETH, has officially emptied their wallets as per Lookonchain data.

The final 26,000 ETH (approximately $80.88 million) was moved to Bitstamp, marking the definitive end of a high-stakes journey that began with an average entry price of just $517.

This indicates that the OG didn’t panic during the brutal market crashes of 2018 or 2022. Instead, they held firm while their portfolio swung by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Hence, this marks a multi-year liquidation strategy that culminated in a realized profit of roughly $274 million, a jaw-dropping 344% return on capital.

This comes at a time when…

The timing of this exit is particularly striking because it coincided with a period of intense institutional tug-of-war.

With Ethereum [ETH] trading around $3,150 at press time, a sudden $81 million wave of sell-side liquidity could cap prices in the short term.

That pressure is amplified by recent Spot Ethereum ETF outflows of $93.8 million. They are suggesting some institutional investors are also stepping back.

However, while early crypto OGs are selling, a new kind of buyer is taking their place. 

Firms like BitMine Immersion Technologies now control more than 3.43% of Ethereum’s total supply. Unlike past individual whales, these institutions aren’t flipping for quick gains.

Likely, they’re staking their ETH, locking it up to support the network while earning yield.

Ergo, short-term selling pressure exists, but long-term ownership is quietly shifting toward institutions with a much longer time horizon.

Why does it matter?

This follows Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s push for a shift in mindset.

Recently, he called for a reality check, arguing that chasing ultra-fast transaction speeds misses the point.

Instead, Ethereum should focus on scaling bandwidth, the ability to process large amounts of data efficiently.

For Buterin, Ethereum’s long-term strength isn’t about shaving milliseconds off transactions, but about handling massive volumes at scale.

Beyond technology, his vision is also philosophical.

He advocates for a “sovereign web” that protects users from what he calls “corposlop”, an internet dominated by addictive algorithms and corporate data extraction that erodes user control and autonomy.

Therefore, while the exit of the OG might mark the end of an era for one wallet, Buterin’s vision highlights the true value of Ethereum. It may no longer be measured in dollars, but in the independence it offers its users. 

Final thoughts

• Short-term sell pressure exists, but it is being absorbed without structural damage, an important sign of market maturity.
• Ownership of ETH is quietly shifting from individual legends to institutional balance sheets with longer investment horizons.