Vitalik Buterin Defends the Ethereum Foundation Against Growing Criticism
Pressure is rising a notch on the crypto market. While the price of Ethereum struggles to regain momentum, the Ethereum Foundation (EF) faces an unprecedented rebellion from investors and developers. Accused of passivity and of driving down the price of ETH by its repeated sales, the organization saw its co-founder Vitalik Buterin step up this Sunday, May 24, 2026 to impose a radical strategic shift. His response is already dividing the ecosystem.
In brief
- Vitalik Buterin reaffirms that the EF is a node among others, not the central pilot of Ethereum.
- The organization controls only 0.16% of Ethereum’s supply, ensuring maximum decentralization compared to competing blockchains.
- The Foundation plans to sell less ETH and adopt a more restrained management of its assets.
The EF is not the center of Ethereum
In a long message published on X, Vitalik Buterin firmly reframes the institutional vision of the Foundation. For him, the structure has never intended to pilot Ethereum from the top. It is a node among others with a defined role.
This assumed position contrasts with the expectations of part of the community who want a more aggressive foundation on :
- marketing ;
- supporting the price of the ETH token.
Buterin is therefore categorical: the Ethereum Foundation will continue to focus on long-term research, cybersecurity, resistance to censorship, and decentralization of the protocol. Its priority is not about chasing performance or commercial battles with other blockchains.
Among the arguments brandished by critics: the Foundation would hold too little ETH to influence its destiny. Buterin responds with figures. The Ethereum Foundation holds only 0.16% of the total circulating ETH supply. By comparison, other blockchain foundations typically keep between 10% and 50% of their native token.
A reality often ignored in debates, which nevertheless changes everything when reading the situation.
Fewer ETH sales and priority to longevity: the rest will change everything
To ease tensions, Vitalik Buterin announces concrete actions. The Ethereum Foundation will reduce its lifestyle and its ETH sales to favor longevity. In May, the organization actually withdrew 21,270 ETH from the Lido staking protocol. Enough to initiate a major restructuring of its treasury.
The remaining money will be massively injected into pure research and the development of a bug-free Ethereum code, potentially through AI-assisted verifications. Buterin himself sets an example by reminding that 90% of his personal wealth remains locked in ETH.
Important clarification: this unstaking does not mean an imminent sale of these tokens, but rather a strategic reorganization of its Ethereum treasury.
One thing is certain: Buterin’s speech does not close the debate. The question is no longer just technical. It is strategic, economic, and deeply human. And the answer the ecosystem will provide in the coming months could redefine the place of Ethereum in the global crypto landscape.
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My name is Ariela, and I am 31 years old. I have been working in the field of web writing for 7 years now. I only discovered trading and cryptocurrency a few years ago, but it is a universe that greatly interests me. The topics covered on the platform allow me to learn more. A singer in my spare time, I also cultivate a great passion for music and reading (and animals!)
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