Vitalik Buterin Rejoins Billionaire Ranks as ETH Surges Past $4K

August 10, 2025 — Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is once again a billionaire, thanks to Ether’s rally above $4,000 for the first time since December 2024.

Buterin’s Billion-Dollar Portfolio

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham reports that Buterin holds 240,042 ETH as the core of his portfolio, alongside smaller stakes in tokens like Aave Ethereum (AETHWETH), WhiteRock (WHITE), Moo Deng (MOODENG), and Wrapped Ethereum (WETH). The total onchain value is estimated at $1.04 billion.

This marks Buterin’s return to billionaire status, a position he first reached in May 2021 when ETH surpassed $3,000. He has previously noted that his holdings have never exceeded 0.9% of Ethereum’s supply.

ETH Breaks $4K and Targets New Highs

ETH’s weekend rally pushed prices to $4,332 after reclaiming the $4,000 level. At press time, ETH trades near $4,244. The price surge comes as Bitcoin’s market dominance weakens, shifting trader focus to Ethereum.

Crypto analysts, including Ted, suggest a retest of the November 2021 all-time high of $4,878 could be imminent. Market data from CoinGlass shows a potential $1.35 billion short squeeze if ETH hits $4,500.

ETF Flows Signal Growing Institutional Demand

On Friday, ETH-focused ETFs recorded $461 million in flows, outpacing Bitcoin ETFs at $404 million. Over the past five trading days, US spot Ether ETFs saw $326.6 million in net inflows, compared to $253.2 million for Bitcoin ETFs, according to Farside data.

Buterin’s Caution on ETH Treasury Growth

Despite the bullish momentum, Buterin has cautioned against the rapid expansion of corporate ETH treasuries, warning that overleveraging could become a systemic risk.

Last week, BitMine Immersion Technologies, chaired by Tom Lee, acquired 208,137 ETH, bringing its total to 833,137 ETH worth over $3 billion. This cements BitMine as the largest Ethereum-holding treasury firm and the fourth-largest crypto treasury globally.