Vitalik Buterin's total net worth is currently over $486 million: The secret to the enormous wealth of Ethereum's founder

2026-02-16 12:10:32

Vitalik Buterin is known as the founder of Ethereum, with a total net worth of approximately $486 million, based on his holdings of 246,730 ETH. This article provides a detailed analysis of how Vitalik Buterin built his immense wealth and the current scale of his assets, using the latest data from ARKHAM Research.

From Bitcoin to Ethereum: Vitalik Buterin’s Startup Story

Vitalik Buterin’s success story begins in 2011, when he was 17 years old. This young genius co-founded Bitcoin Magazine with Mihai Alisie, taking his first steps into the cryptocurrency industry. The following year, he began to realize Bitcoin’s limitations. Its limited scripting language prevented the execution of more complex smart contracts and decentralized applications.

In November 2013, 19-year-old Buterin published the Ethereum White Paper. This document positioned Ethereum as an innovative blockchain platform that would overcome Bitcoin’s restrictions. In 2014, he collaborated with Anthony Di Iorio, Charles Hoskinson, Mihai Alisie, and Amir Chetrit to establish the Ethereum Foundation. Later, Joseph Lubin, Gavin Wood, and Jeffrey Wilcke joined the team.

In June of that year, Buterin received a $100,000 grant from the Thiel Foundation and decided to drop out of Waterloo University to focus entirely on Ethereum development.

Vitalik Buterin’s Asset Composition: ETH Makes Up Over 99% of Total

At the official launch of Ethereum on July 30, 2015, Buterin was allocated ETH representing 16.53% of the total supply as a founder. Currently, his holdings amount to about 246,730 ETH, which, at the current price ($1.97K), is worth approximately $486 million.

Most of his known crypto assets are derived from this ETH holding, with ETH constituting over 99% of his portfolio. This means his total assets are heavily influenced by ETH price fluctuations.

In a 2018 tweet, Buterin claimed, “I have never held more than 0.9% of the total supply of Ethereum.” In reality, in 2015, his holdings were 0.91% of the total supply, but due to network inflation and his gradual sales, this percentage has decreased over the years.

From 2021 Peak to Present: Fluctuations in Wealth

Vitalik Buterin’s asset trajectory closely correlates with dramatic ETH price swings. 2021 was a historic year for him.

On November 18, 2021, when ETH hit a record high of $4,891, Buterin’s total assets temporarily peaked at $2.09 billion. At just 27 years old, he officially joined the ranks of billionaires. This success was the result of eight years of dedication to blockchain innovation since 2013.

However, the crypto market is volatile. By December 31, 2021, his assets had fallen to $1.2 billion, and by the end of 2022, they further declined to $300 million. Since then, the market has gradually recovered.

As of February 2026, ETH prices hover around $1.97K, and Buterin’s total assets have recovered to approximately $486 million. While this is a significant improvement from the 2022 lows, it still falls short of the 2021 peak.

From Bitcoin Magazine to Investor: Other Assets of Vitalik Buterin

Buterin’s wealth cannot be explained solely by his ETH holdings. He also invests in various non-ETH cryptocurrencies and venture projects.

Major holdings in non-ETH assets include:

KNCL (Kyber Network): 869,500 tokens, valued at about $609,780. Buterin serves as an advisor to this protocol.
WETH (Wrapped Ether): 196.42 tokens, valued at about $436,920. This is ETH’s wrapped version.
THE Token: 110 million tokens, valued at about $127,950.

Notable special holdings:

TORN (Tornado.Cash): valued at $1,290. Buterin has mentioned using this privacy mixer for donations, including moving funds to Ukraine.
SHIB (Shiba Inu): The most dramatic chapter in Buterin’s asset story. In 2020, during the launch of the SHIB project, the developers sent him 50% of the total supply (worth about $10 billion at the time). But Buterin decided to use this massive asset for social good, burning over 410 trillion tokens (more than 90% of what he received). He then donated the remaining SHIB tokens to CryptoRelief in India. At that time, the value was about $1.56 billion.

Venture investments:

Buterin participated in StarkWare’s seed round, investing in zero-knowledge proof technology. StarkWare was valued at $8 billion in 2022, and this investment may be a hidden component of Buterin’s total wealth.

ETH Holders Ranking: Buterin’s Position

To understand Buterin’s position among Ethereum holders, comparing him with other major holders is essential.

The largest ETH holder is the ETH 2.0 staking deposit smart contract, holding 34,259,215 ETH. This is due to the staking mechanism where validators lock ETH to support the network.

Next are Coinbase (second) and Binance (third), which hold large amounts of ETH to support user withdrawals and trading functions. Institutional investors like Grayscale also hold significant quantities.

Buterin is the largest individual ETH holder. Other individual investors, such as Rain Lohmus, hold around 250,000 ETH but have lost access due to lost private keys. Buterin’s 246,730 ETH is arguably the largest accessible individual holding in the industry.

Comparing with Other Ethereum Co-Founders: Buterin’s Dominance

Other Ethereum co-founders also benefit from ETH holdings. However, Buterin’s ongoing involvement in network development has contributed to his larger asset size.

During the 2022 transition from PoW to PoS, the Ethereum Foundation, led by Buterin, spearheaded this historic upgrade. This continuous contribution has positioned Buterin as a central figure in the Ethereum ecosystem, with greater influence and assets than other co-founders.

Conclusion: Vitalik Buterin’s Journey with Ethereum’s Growth

Vitalik Buterin’s total net worth of about $486 million is the result of 13 years of dedication to blockchain innovation. Entering the crypto industry at 17 and unveiling Ethereum’s vision at 19, he has become a leading figure in the crypto space.

His assets are primarily dependent on ETH holdings, fluctuating from a peak of $2.09 billion in 2021 to $300 million in 2022, and now recovering to $486 million. These fluctuations reflect the overall cycle of the blockchain market.

Buterin continues to utilize his wealth not for profit but for ecosystem development and social contribution. Monitoring his asset movements can provide insights into the health of Ethereum and the broader crypto market.

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.