Vitalik Buterin withdraws 16,384 ETH to fund privacy and open tech
Buterin moved a stash of ETH to personally bankroll privacy, verifiability and open‑hardware projects as the Ethereum Foundation tightens spending.
Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin withdrew 16,384 ETH — reported as roughly $45 million by multiple outlets — to fund privacy technologies and open‑source infrastructure, including work on verifiable stacks and open hardware [1][2][3].
Buterin said the move aligns with a push for “full‑stack openness and verifiability” while the Ethereum Foundation enters a period of “mild austerity” and tighter spending, according to his statements and reporting [1][3][2].
Coverage differed on the USD valuation of the withdrawal: CoinDesk reported a $17.3 million figure for the same withdrawal, reflecting differing price references used by outlets [4].
Reporting indicates the funds will be directed toward privacy research and open‑source projects intended to strengthen Ethereum’s technical foundations and long‑term sustainability [1][2].
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Citations
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- 1Vitalik Buterin earmarks $45M in ETH for privacy and open techCointelegraph• Jan 30, 2026
- 2Vitalik Buterin Withdraws 16,384 ETH for Open-Source Fundingdefiliban.com• Jan 30, 2026
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- 4Vitalik Buterin pulls $17 million in ether as Ethereum Foundation tightens spendingCoinDesk• Jan 30, 2026
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