Kraken Receives $100M In ETH From Ethereum Foundation Wallet: Impending Sell-Off?

As a seasoned crypto investor with over a decade of experience in this dynamic market, I find myself closely watching developments within the Ethereum ecosystem. The recent transfer of 35,000 ETH by the Ethereum Foundation into Kraken has certainly piqued my interest, and it seems that many others feel the same way.


Based on information from the blockchain transaction monitor, Lookonchain, the Ethereum Foundation recently transferred 35,000 ETH, equivalent to approximately $94.07 million, into the digital asset exchange Kraken. This large transaction has sparked debate among Ethereum investors, as it was executed during a small cryptocurrency market upturn towards the end of the week.

The timing and size of this transaction have sparked discussions among investors, who are worried about its possible influence on Ethereum’s price and market stability. In an effort to address these worries, Aya Miyaguchi, head of the Ethereum Foundation, explained that this transfer was simply a part of their regular treasury operations.

She underlined the importance of these transactions for keeping the foundation functioning smoothly, stressing that they don’t imply any pessimism about the market or Ethereum’s future prospects.

Examining The Transfer Of 35,000 ETH

The Ethereum Foundation’s digital wallet is among the biggest custodians of Ethereum. Since it plays a significant role in the market, transactions from this wallet are often scrutinized by investors and traders. Normally, large transfers from the wallet are publicly disclosed beforehand by the Ethereum Foundation. But, interestingly, a transfer of 35,000 ETH to Kraken exchange occurred recently without prior notification.

Following the disclosure of the transaction on social media platform X through Lookonchain, it sparked some responses from investors. A well-known Ethereum softcore developer, who goes by the name antiprosynthesis.eth on the platform, expressed his apprehensions by inquiring why such a substantial transaction could occur without any prior notice or warning.

As a follow-up, Aya Miyaguchi, head of the Ethereum Foundation, offered some insight. She clarified that the foundation manages around a hundred million dollars each year, and numerous entities receiving these funds prefer to get paid in traditional currencies (fiat).

Kraken Receives $100M In ETH From Ethereum Foundation Wallet: Impending Sell-Off?

As a researcher, I found myself faced with the need to convert my ETH into fiat currency. This action necessitated a move of my ETH to Kraken. This step served as verification that I had indeed chosen to sell my ETH tokens. Yet, it’s important to note that this transfer was not an immediate sale; instead, it marked the beginning of a strategic and measured process of selling ETH tokens over time.

The reason no one in the community was informed prior to the sale is because the director mentioned that the foundation was cautioned against engaging in any financial transactions related to the Treasury due to complex regulations. Consequently, they couldn’t disclose their plans ahead of time.

As a crypto investor, I’m involved in managing our treasury, which includes a budget of approximately $100 million annually. A significant portion of this comes from grants and salaries, and due to certain limitations, some recipients can only accept payments in traditional fiat currency. This year, we were advised to hold off on making any transactions for an extended period of time.

— Aya Miyaguchi (ayamiya.eth) (@AyaMiyagotchi) August 24, 2024

Current State Of Ethereum

Currently, at the point of this writing, Ethereum is being traded for approximately $2,750. Following some positive price movements, it appears that Ethereum has established a support level around $2,730. As per Etherscan, the Ethereum Foundation’s wallet contains 273,273 ETH, which equates to an estimated value of $752 million. In summary, this wallet holds a total of roughly $769 million in various tokens.

Over the past few days, it’s not just the Ethereum Foundation that has moved funds into a cryptocurrency exchange. According to Whale Alerts, there was also a significant transfer of 300,000 ETH into Coinbase.

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2024-08-25 21:12