TLDR
- Ethereum Foundation clarifies it did not sell 2,795 ETH, amid rumors of a $13M sell-off.
ETH price surged to $4,704, up 30% in the past week, despite corporate ETH accumulation.
Ethereum Foundation’s holdings have shrunk to under 0.3% of total supply from 9% in 2014.
The Foundation’s recent strategy includes shrinking ETH holdings and participating in DeFi.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has dismissed rumors that it was responsible for a recent sale of 2,795 ETH worth approximately $13 million. The transaction occurred when ETH was trading above $4,500, a few percentage points off its all-time high. The confusion arose due to the wallet in question, which had received a portion of the EF’s Ethereum holdings from the 2017 ICO. However, Hsiao-Wei Wang, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, clarified that the Foundation no longer controls the wallet in question.
According to Wang, the EF held around 9% of the total ETH supply after the 2014 ICO. However, it now holds less than 0.3% of the total supply, meaning many addresses linked to the Foundation during the ICO are no longer controlled by the organization. Despite the confusion, Wang assured that the Foundation’s treasury management has evolved, and they are no longer involved in such sales.
Ethereum Foundation’s Efforts to Improve Treasury Transparency
The Ethereum Foundation has faced scrutiny in the past for its treasury management practices. Historically, some of the sales of ETH from its holdings were viewed as poorly communicated and unsystematic, leading to public concern. In response, the EF has implemented reforms to enhance transparency and financial discipline.
Wang emphasized that the EF’s current strategy involves greater involvement in decentralized finance (DeFi), using these avenues to both support ecosystem growth and strengthen its treasury.
It was not the Ethereum Foundation's operation.
Fun fact: Back in the 2014 ICO, ~9% of the ETH supply was allocated to the EF; now EF holds under 0.3% of the total supply. So you can probably find tons of addresses linked to EF after ten years. https://t.co/g0UMwtO4Le
— hww.eth | Hsiao-Wei Wang (@hwwonx) August 13, 2025
The Foundation’s approach to managing Ethereum’s treasury now includes carefully planned and transparent sales and investments. One notable move was its recent sale of 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming, an agreement that saw the company become the second-largest corporate ETH holder.
Impact of ETH Sale Rumors on Market Sentiment
Despite the Ethereum Foundation’s clarification, the initial reports surrounding the sale led to speculation that the EF might be “dumping” tokens at a time when ETH’s price was near a high. This fueled concerns about market manipulation, especially during a time of growing investor optimism. However, after the EF’s official response, ETH surged to new highs, reaching over $4,700 in just a few days.
The Ethereum market has experienced a significant rally in recent days, with the price up 30% in the past week. The rally has led ETH to come close to its all-time high, leaving many analysts optimistic about the token’s potential for further price appreciation. With institutional investors and major corporations continuing to accumulate ETH, the market sentiment remains positive, despite past concerns about the Foundation’s actions.
Ethereum Foundation’s Strategy and Ethereum’s Growing Market Influence
As Ethereum continues to solidify its position as a leader in the blockchain space, the Foundation’s approach has shifted. The EF’s efforts to scale back its ETH holdings are aimed at reducing its influence over the network, giving more control to decentralized entities. This is part of a broader move towards making Ethereum a fully decentralized network.
In addition to its treasury management, the Foundation has engaged in various projects aimed at fostering Ethereum’s adoption in the financial sector. The growth of Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, as well as the adoption of Ethereum for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, has positioned ETH as a central player in the evolving digital economy.
While the EF has reduced its holdings, institutional and corporate interest in ETH continues to grow. Major companies are increasingly seeing the value in holding Ethereum as part of their treasury strategies, adding fuel to the token’s upward momentum. As Ethereum continues to develop and expand, the market remains focused on how the Ethereum Foundation will manage its role in the ecosystem.
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