The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has recently made headlines for selling 100 ETH for $336,475, marking its second sale of Ethereum in 2025. This brings the total sales to 200 ETH, valued at $672,000. The community has been engaged in discussions about the foundation’s approach to managing its resources.
Critics have argued that the EF should prioritize staking its ETH holdings to generate yields instead of selling. They believe that staking aligns more closely with Ethereum’s goals and supports long-term sustainability. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, addressed the controversy by explaining that regulatory concerns and the potential for contentious hard forks influenced the decision to sell rather than stake. While regulatory pressures have eased, the risk of staking forcing the EF to take sides on divisive upgrades remains a significant concern. Buterin mentioned that the EF is actively exploring ways to utilize its ETH holdings more effectively, including staking, but these efforts are still in the early stages.
SpotOnChain suggested that the EF consider over-the-counter (OTC) trading for future sales to reduce public scrutiny and improve the community’s perception of the foundation’s financial management. They stated, “Nobody wants to see the EF continuously dumping ETH on them.”
In addition to these financial discussions, the EF is undergoing significant leadership restructuring. Buterin highlighted efforts to strengthen collaboration with developers, wallet providers, and Layer-2 networks, emphasizing decentralization, privacy, and open-source innovation. The foundation aims to support app builders and ensure important values like privacy, open source, and censorship resistance are a reality for users.
Aave CEO Stani Kulechov also weighed in on the conversation, proposing fundamental changes to the EF’s operational and financial strategies. He advocated for cutting operational costs, diversifying the treasury, and establishing a sustainable revenue model. Kulechov’s suggestions included streamlining the EF’s workforce to focus on technical expertise and eliminating inefficiencies for financial stability.
Overall, the Ethereum Foundation’s recent actions and discussions reflect a commitment to responsible financial management and support for innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem.