Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has donated $884,000 to various charities over the past ten days, following an influx of memecoins sent to his wallet. Recently, he converted an additional $1.6 million in memecoins into Ether, currently valued at $2,532.87, which he pledged for charitable contributions.
According to blockchain analytics firm Spot On Chain, the recent sale included $982,800 worth of Moo Deng (MOODENG), $231,000 of Monsterra (MSTR), and $183,000 of ETHEREUM IS GOOD (EBULL). Buterin also liquidated holdings in Popcat (POPCAT), Fwog (FWOG), and vitalek buteren (VITALIK).
To date, Buterin has converted a total of $2.78 million in memecoins into Ether, donating $884,000 to charity over the last nine days, as noted by Spot On Chain on October 13.
Buterin commended memecoin creators for sending him tokens for donation but encouraged them to consider making direct contributions instead. On October 7, he announced that he would donate all 10 billion memecoin tokens he had received to an organization focused on anti-airborne disease technology.
Earlier this year, on August 15, Buterin donated all animal-themed memecoins he had acquired over the previous 12 months to the Effective Altruism Funds’ Animal Welfare Fund.
Buterin’s philanthropic efforts are likely to continue, as his crypto portfolio remains substantial, featuring $2.4 million in MOODENG tokens, $144,000 in Neiro (NEIRO), $117,000 in MSTR, and $80,000 in Degen (DEGEN), according to Spot On Chain.
He has consistently advocated for the positive impact of memecoins on society, highlighting their potential to fund significant public projects and provide income opportunities for individuals in lower-income countries. However, he has criticized celebrity-themed memecoins that primarily benefit the celebrities and early investors involved.
Recently, Buterin was suggested as a candidate for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences by economists Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok. Cowen remarked, “Vitalik built a platform and created a currency, even refuting Mises’ regression theorem in the process, following in Satoshi’s footsteps. What more does one need to do to win a Nobel Prize?” Tabarrok echoed his sentiment, noting Buterin’s ongoing contributions to Ethereum’s mechanism design, particularly through its transition to proof-of-stake.