Key Insights: Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, remains one of the most-watched personalities in the crypto industry. Fresh blockchain data shows the EthereumKey Insights: Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, remains one of the most-watched personalities in the crypto industry. Fresh blockchain data shows the Ethereum

How Rich Is Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin?

2026/02/21 19:00
4 min read

Key Insights:

  • Vitalik Buterin holds about 240,000 ETH, keeping his net worth near $467 million at current prices.
  • His wealth is tied to Ethereum’s price and to early founder allocations from the 2014 token allocation.
  • If the ETH price reaches $4,000, his holdings alone could push his net worth back close to $1 billion.

Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, remains one of the most-watched personalities in the crypto industry. Fresh blockchain data shows the Ethereum creator still controls a massive ETH reserve.

Notably, his public warnings about artificial intelligence and decentralization continue to spark debate across the technology sector.

Vitalik Buterin Net Worth and Wealth Sources

According to Arkham Research, Vitalik Buterin built most of his fortune from his early role in Ethereum, where founders received a share of ETH before the network launched in 2015.

Blockchain data shows he holds about 240,000 ETH in known wallets, making up the largest part of Vitalik Buterin’s net worth today. His holdings came from the 2014 coin sale, where ETH was sold to early supporters, and founders received allocations.

At that time, the total supply was about 72 million ETH, and the founders controlled over sixteen percent. That early share grew in value as Ethereum expanded. He never held more than a small portion of the total supply as his share peaked near 1% in 2015.

However, it later dropped to about 0.2% as supply increased and some tokens moved. Still, he remains the largest known individual holder with direct control. Institutions such as Binance, Coinbase, and BlackRock hold more ETH overall, but those assets belong to customers and funds.

His personal balance stands out because it belongs to him alone and reflects his long connection to Ethereum’s growth.

Vitalik Buterin Wealth Profile | Source: ArkhamVitalik Buterin Wealth Profile | Source: Arkham

Public wallet records show his balance has declined over the years, not because he lost funds, but because he donated and transferred some of his ETH. He has sent large amounts to charity and research groups. He also moved funds during network upgrades.

These actions reduced his visible balance but showed his long-term support for the ecosystem and community growth over many years.

His known wallets make it possible to track changes clearly. Market watchers often review these addresses to measure his influence and holdings. Even with gradual reductions, his position remains strong compared to most individuals in crypto.

His wealth story reflects early belief in Ethereum and years of involvement in building and guiding the network through major technical and market changes over time, now and today.

Ethereum Founder Speaks Against Autonomous AI

Vitalik Buterin recently drew attention after criticizing claims about self-improving artificial intelligence systems. He warned that reducing human control could create serious risks and said technology must serve people first.

His remarks focused on the need to keep human direction at the center of innovation. He said many so-called independent systems still rely on companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

According to him, this weakens the idea of independence and brings back the same trust problems decentralization was meant to solve.

The AI Evolution Debate | Source: Vitalik ButerinThe AI Evolution Debate | Source: Vitalik Buterin

Vitalik Buterin added that Ethereum was created to give users freedom, not to replace human decision-making. His comments reflect ongoing debates about how fast new technology should move and who should control it.

How Much Vitalik Buterin’s Net Worth Could Grow at $4,000 ETH Price?

If ETH price climbs back to $4,000, his known holdings would be worth about $960 million. That estimate comes from multiplying roughly 240,000 ETH by the projected price. This would push Vitalik Buterin’s net worth close to the billionaire level again.

He already reached that milestone during past market rallies when ETH traded at record highs. While filing this report, Ethereum price was trading at $1,970.37. However, his wealth later declined as prices across the crypto market fell.

This pattern shows how closely his fortune follows Ethereum’s price movements. He also holds smaller tokens and investments, including support for StarkWare. While those add value, ETH remains the main driver. As long as Ethereum grows, his financial position will continue to rise and fall with the network he helped create.

The post How Rich Is Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin? appeared first on The Coin Republic.

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