Vitalik Buterin Sells Memecoins Worth $139K, Likely for Charity

Vitalik Buterin sold meme coins worth $139K, including DOG, ESTEE, and DINU, exchanging them for Ethereum and USDC

Buterin has a history of donating proceeds from memecoin sales to charity, including $884,000 last year

The Ethereum co-founder contributed 50 ETH to aid Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s legal defense amidst allegations of sanctions violations

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sold a collection of meme coins he received for free, earning approximately $139,000. As revealed by blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain, the tokens sold include DOG, ESTEE, and DINU. Buterin converted the tokens into Ethereum and USDC, maintaining his practice of converting unsolicited tokens into funds

According to Lookonchain’s post on X, Buterin sold 340 billion DOG tokens for 5.2 ETH. He also exchanged 50.48 billion ESTEE tokens and 10 trillion DINU tokens, receiving 116,307 and 4,181 USDC, respectively

Proceeds Likely to Fund Charitable Efforts

Buterin is renowned for directing proceeds from such transactions to charitable initiatives. In October last year, he sold meme coins worth $2.78 million, donating $884,000 to various causes. Among his contributions, 320 ETH, valued at over $1 million, was given to Coin Center, a nonprofit focused on blockchain advocacy

Buterin has frequently emphasized the need for meme coin creators to prioritize charitable contributions instead of sending tokens to him. He has also criticized the meme coin frenzy for its focus on celebrity endorsements rather than meaningful innovation

Criticism of Celebrity-Driven Memecoins

The Ethereum co-founder has consistently called out the exploitation of celebrities to attract investments in meme coins, arguing that such practices offer minimal value. According to him, such projects are counterproductive because they rob meaningful projects in the blockchain space hence distorting the essence of Ethereum. Buterin has also invited developers to adopt DAOs to engage the participant community in the decision-making process

Support for Tornado Cash Developer Roman Storm

Beyond meme-coin sales, Buterin recently supported a fellow blockchain developer facing legal challenges. He donated 50 ETH to aid Roman Storm, a developer associated with Tornado Cash, who is accused of money laundering and sanctions violations

Storm faces a U.S. trial in April, with allegations tied to the mixing service’s role in concealing cryptocurrency transactions. Amidst these challenges, Buterin’s contribution has provided critical support, helping the defense fundraise $640,061—approximately 33% of its $2 million goal

Buterin’s actions reflect his commitment to redirecting unsolicited token proceeds to meaningful causes. Besides supporting blockchain advocacy and legal defenses, his efforts highlight the broader potential of cryptocurrencies to drive social impact.