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Ethereum Foundation Offloads $10.2M ETH to BitMine in OTC Deal

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Crypto Breaking News

The Ethereum Foundation has completed a direct OTC sale of 5,000 Ether to BitMine Immersion Technologies, a move valued at about $10.2 million at the agreed price of $2,042.96 per ETH. The deal was announced in a Saturday post on X, with proceeds earmarked to support the foundation’s core operations—from protocol research and development to ecosystem growth initiatives and community grant programs. The on-chain transfer will originate from a Safe multisignature wallet, underscoring a cautious approach to treasury management. BitMine Immersion Technologies, a NYSE American-listed company trading under BMNR, has established itself as a major Ether holder, boasting more than 4.5 million ETH worth roughly $9.3 billion according to treasury-tracking services. The arrangement reflects ongoing treasury moves as the ecosystem weighs liquidity against long‑term network security and growth.

The sale represents the Ethereum Foundation’s second direct corporate ETH OTC transaction. In July 2025, the foundation sold 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming at an average price around $2,572.37, a transaction valued at roughly $25.7 million. Those operations fit within a treasury framework the Foundation publicly introduced in June 2025, which aims to convert a portion of ETH holdings into fiat to fund a fiat-based operating reserve. The policy targets annual spending of roughly 15% of treasury holdings while preserving a multi-year runway for core activities.

In tandem with liquidity management, the Foundation has begun staking a portion of its treasury, with plans to deploy around 70,000 ETH into validator infrastructure using open-source tools. The staking initiative aligns with a broader push to diversify the network’s security model while encouraging community-led participation in validator infrastructure. The move follows a broader shift toward leveraging on-chain infrastructure to support long‑term network health, even as treasury activity continues to balance immediate operating needs with future protocol upgrades.

Earlier this week, the Foundation also published a mandate outlining its role in stewarding the Ethereum ecosystem, emphasizing decentralization, user sovereignty over assets and data, and the preservation of openness, censorship-resistance, and privacy. The document reiterates that Ethereum should remain open-source and resilient while scaling to support global adoption. The Foundation says its focus will center on core protocol upgrades, long-term research, cybersecurity, and developer tools, while gradually reducing direct influence over the network’s trajectory.

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As part of these broader efforts, the Ethereum Foundation has highlighted the importance of maintaining a balanced treasury—between liquid assets that fund operations and longer-horizon holdings that bolster network security. The ongoing staking program, coupled with selective asset sales, signals a strategy of gradual, governance-aligned treasury management rather than rapid asset liquidation. The organization has also reinforced its stance on decentralization and user sovereignty as guiding principles for future development, a position that remains central to the community’s assessment of Ethereum’s long-term resilience.

Market participants are watching how these treasury decisions influence Ether’s price dynamics and the broader crypto landscape, particularly given the scale of corporate holdings represented by BitMine Immersion Technologies and its peers. The evolving framework could shape how other entities think about treasury diversification, liquidity management, and governance participation in a world where institutional drivers increasingly intersect with open-source protocols.

Why it matters

The Ethereum Foundation’s treasury actions underscore a pragmatic approach to sustaining core protocol work while supporting a broader ecosystem economy. By converting a portion of ETH into fiat to fund operations, the Foundation aims to ensure stable funding for research, development, and community initiatives even as the network continues to evolve through staking, upgrades, and tooling improvements. This approach also highlights how non-profit and corporate treasury strategies can align with long-term network security goals, providing a potential blueprint for other organizations balancing liquidity with stewardship responsibilities.

At the same time, the moves reinforce the role of corporate treasuries as major liquidity anchors in the crypto space. BitMine Immersion Technologies’ distinctive position as a leading Ether holder signals a continued consolidation of ownership among large institutional actors. The presence of such buyers and the timing of OTC sales can influence market depth and price discovery, particularly during periods of macro volatility or shifting risk appetite. For developers and users, the emphasis on decentralization, privacy-preserving design, and censorship resistance remains central to Ethereum’s mission, even as the funding environment evolves to support ongoing protocol work and security enhancements.

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From a governance perspective, the Foundation’s renewed mandate suggests a deliberate calibration of influence: funding core work without exerting heavy-handed direction over the network’s day-to-day decisions. This approach may reassure users that the project remains committed to open governance and community-led development while recognizing the practical needs of sustaining a global-scale protocol. For investors and builders, the outlined priorities—protocol upgrades, long-horizon research, cybersecurity, and developer tooling—could translate into meaningful advances in network usability, security, and scalability over the coming quarters.

What to watch next

  • Monitoring the cadence of future ETH OTC sales by the Ethereum Foundation, including any disclosures on price, volume, and counterparties.
  • Progress on the 70,000 ETH staking plan, including deployment timelines, validator outreach, and integration with open-source infrastructure.
  • Updates to the Foundation’s mandate and any governance signals that indicate shifts in focus or funding strategy.
  • Shifts in corporate treasury activity among Ether holders, as broader market liquidity and risk sentiment evolve.

Sources & verification

  • Ethereum Foundation X post announcing the OTC sale and its use of proceeds.
  • July 2025 sale of 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming and related coverage.
  • Ethereum Treasuries page documenting large Ether holdings and treasury activity.
  • Ethereum Foundation mandate outlining role, goals, and governance stance.

Ethereum Foundation’s second corporate ETH OTC sale and treasury strategy

The Ethereum Foundation announced a second corporate ETH sale in an OTC arrangement, transferring 5,000 Ether to BitMine Immersion Technologies (EXCHANGE: BMNR) for about $10.2 million at roughly $2,042.96 per ETH. The announcement, disseminated via an X post, makes clear that the proceeds will underwrite the foundation’s ongoing core operations: protocol research and development, ecosystem growth initiatives, and community grant programs. The on-chain payment is slated to come from the foundation’s Safe multisignature wallet, a custody mechanism that reflects the group’s emphasis on secure treasury management. BitMine Immersion Technologies—the NYSE American-listed company known by the ticker BMNR—has emerged as a leading corporate holder of Ether, with more than 4.5 million ETH in its treasury, valued at approximately $9.3 billion according to public trackers. This acquisition underlines a broader trend of large institutional actors participating directly in Ethereum’s long‑term funding and asset allocation strategy, complementing the foundation’s funding priorities.

The deal constitutes the federation’s second direct crypto-to-cash sale to a corporate treasury holder and follows a July 2025 transaction in which the foundation sold 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming at an average price of about $2,572.37, totaling roughly $25.7 million. These OTC transactions are part of a formal treasury management framework launched in June 2025, designed to convert a portion of ETH holdings to fiat to sustain a fiat-based operating reserve. The framework sets a target of spending roughly 15% of treasury holdings annually to maintain a viable operating runway across multiple years, while preserving enough liquidity to fund ongoing protocol work and ecosystem initiatives.

The Foundation’s staking initiative also took a step forward this week, signaling a dual-pronged strategy: maintain liquidity for operations while expanding on-chain security through validator deployment. The plan calls for approximately 70,000 ETH to be staked using open‑source infrastructure to bolster the network’s validator base. This move aligns with broader efforts to diversify the treasury beyond liquidity alone, aiming to strengthen long-term security and resilience at a time when Ethereum continues to scale through upgrades and tooling improvements.

In a separate development, the Foundation published a mandate detailing its stewardship of the Ethereum ecosystem, stressing decentralization and user sovereignty as core principles. The document lays out a plan to keep Ethereum censorship-resistant, open-source, and privacy-preserving, while supporting scalable adoption on a global scale. The Foundation emphasizes a focus on core protocol upgrades, sustainable long‑term research, cybersecurity, and developer tooling, with a plan to progressively reduce direct governance influence over the network. This framing signals a deliberate shift toward more community-led governance and transparent, long-horizon funding for the network’s ongoing evolution.

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Market observers continue to parse how these treasury moves interact with the broader dynamics of liquidity, risk sentiment, and regulatory developments shaping the crypto sector. By balancing periodic asset sales with strategic staking, the Ethereum Foundation aims to sustain essential operations and fund innovation, while aligning with a decentralization ethos that remains central to Ethereum’s identity. The ongoing evolution of the foundation’s treasury framework will be watched closely by developers, investors, and users who rely on Ethereum’s infrastructure for a wide range of applications.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Token2049 delay, Ethereum Foundation mandate

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Token2049 Dubai pushed to 2027 over security concerns

In this week’s edition of the weekly recap, Token2049 organizers postponed the Dubai edition until 2027 citing safety concerns from escalating Iran-Israel-U.S. tensions, Robinhood reported February crypto notional volumes increased 9% to $25 billion and the Ethereum Foundation published a formal mandate establishing its role as steward of a censorship-resistant, privacy-first protocol.

Summary

  • Token2049 Dubai postponed to 2027 due to Iran–Israel tensions.
  • Robinhood crypto trading volume rose to $25B in February.
  • Ethereum Foundation published a formal censorship-resistant mandate.

Token2049 Dubai delayed amid regional conflict

  • Event organizers postponed the Dubai edition until 2027 after citing safety concerns linked to rising geopolitical tensions from the Iran-Israel-U.S. military confrontation.
  • The decision follows cancellation of another major industry gathering, the TON Gateway event, which had also been scheduled for Dubai.

Robinhood shows crypto trading dominance

  • February data revealed crypto notional volumes increased 9% to $25 billion while equity, options, and event contracts experienced contraction.

Ethereum Foundation establishes written doctrine

  • The organization published an “EF Mandate” formalizing its role as steward of a censorship-resistant, privacy-first, open-source base layer.
  • The document signals zero appetite for surveillance-chain compromises as the protocol scales to accommodate broader adoption.

Buterin explains 2021 donation circumstances

  • Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin clarified the massive 2021 Shiba Inu donation to the Future of Life Institute while distancing himself from the group’s recent artificial intelligence policy approaches.
  • Buterin explained the tokens surged in value during the 2021 meme coin boom with peak “book value” exceeding $1 billion, prompting him to access cold storage funds, sell portions for Ether, and donate to various causes.

Hong Kong prepares banking stablecoin licenses

  • Banking giants HSBC and Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first institutions receiving stablecoin issuer licenses in Hong Kong.
  • The licensing approach positions Hong Kong to compete with other jurisdictions for regulated stablecoin issuance and operations.

DeFi user loses millions in slippage error

  • A user attempting to swap $50 million USDT for AAVE through the protocol’s interface received only 324 AAVE after accepting a quote with extreme price impact.
  • The transaction prompted Aave to review safeguards and refund a portion of transaction fees following the catastrophic slippage outcome.

Prosecutors oppose Bankman-Fried retrial request

  • U.S. prosecutors asked a federal judge to deny a new trial for the disgraced crypto entrepreneur, arguing he has not shown legal basis for overturning his FTX-related conviction.
  • As per the report, prosecutors told the court Bankman-Fried’s motion fails to showcase his original trial was unfair or that new evidence would meaningfully alter the verdict.

Bonk.fun warns users of domain compromise

  • The Solana-based meme coin launch platform team alerted users to avoid its website after hackers reportedly compromised the domain and deployed a malicious wallet drainer.
  • At least one trader claimed losses of $273,000 after connecting their wallet to the compromised interface.

Indian authorities arrest GainBitcoin fraud suspect

  • The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Ayush Varshney, co-founder and chief technology officer of Darwin Labs Private Limited, in connection with alleged GainBitcoin cryptocurrency fraud.
  • Investigators allege Darwin Labs helped build technical infrastructure for the scheme including the MCAP token and GBMiners platform.
  • Varshney was intercepted at Mumbai airport while allegedly attempting to leave India after a Look Out Circular was issued.

Ripple acquires Australian payments firm

  • The company announced plans to secure an Australian financial services license through acquisition of BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd, a payments company linked to the European Banking Circle Group.
  • The deal remains underway and is expected to close April 1 after standard closing processes finalize.

Anthropic sues government over AI blacklist

  • The artificial intelligence developer filed a lawsuit against multiple U.S. government agencies, accusing federal authorities of unlawfully blacklisting its technology.
  • The legal action alleges the blacklisting occurred after Anthropic refused to allow certain military uses of its AI systems.

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How Much Profit Would You Have Now?

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Analyst Eyes $80K Upside Ahead


Bitcoin was (again) called dead six years ago during the COVID-19 flash crash and it’s now lightyears ahead. Do you see any resemblance with the current landscape?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. You have probably heard that saying at some point in your life. Bitcoin’s price has certainly felt it, as it has experienced countless crashes over the years under (slightly) different circumstances, only to be called dead again.

Yet, after each such instance, it has come back stronger than before, providing substantial (paper or not) gains for those who persevere and stay away from all the noise.

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6-Year Anniversary

Six years ago, it was the COVID-19 crash. The panic of an unprecedented outbreak that essentially halted the world led to a massive crash in the ever-volatile cryptocurrency sector. Bitcoin, for one, experienced arguably its worst single-day performance in terms of percentage losses, going down by almost 50% from $8,200 to under $4,700.

Its overall calamity at the time was even more profound. In the span of less than a week, it tumbled from $9,000 to a bottom of $3,720, losing roughly 60% of its value. Experts were quick to pick up this mind-blowing crash, proclaiming it dead again. Some argued that BTC had lost its safe-haven crash in those trading hours due to its intense volatility.

And, if you are looking only at those market moves, you would probably have to agree, even if you are a Maxi. However, if you zoom out and track what happened since then, it might not be such a straightforward agreement.

Not only has bitcoin never gone down to those levels in the six years that followed, but it had 10x-ed by January 2021, and kept climbing to $69,000 just a year and a half later. Fast-forward to late 2025, and it peaked at over $126,000 – or more than 3,300% higher than its COVID-induced low. Even with the current correction dragging it to $70,000, its gains since those dark times were pretty impressive, as Davinci Jeremie asserted.

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Ring Any Bells?

As mentioned above, BTC currently trades nearly 50% away from its October 2025 ATH. Naturally, people are calling it dead again or predicting that it “is going to die” soon. What else is new? … the more they stay the same, right?

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Yes, bitcoin ended 2025 in the red – the first such occasion in a post-halving year. Yes, it’s on a 5-month red streak. Yes, gold and silver stole the show. Yes, even the stock markets have charted notable gains despite the ongoing uncertainty, wars, threats, tariffs, Epstein files, and everything in between.

But is bitcoin dead (again)? Is it really? How many times would it have to come back from those proclaimed deaths to earn investors’ trust? Or maybe it doesn’t matter. A few former critics have been turned, but many remain skeptical. And maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, because bitcoin is not for everyone, at least not yet.

So, if you believe in it, your faith shouldn’t be dismantled during yet another correction. If such retracements are evident even when BTC has become a trillion-dollar asset, they would likely continue for years ahead. Don’t judge it by its worst days, but enjoy the good ones, as they usually follow the darkest hours.

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Stablecoin Regulatory Uncertainty Could Put Banks at a Disadvantage: Expert

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Stablecoin Regulatory Uncertainty Could Put Banks at a Disadvantage: Expert

Regulatory uncertainty around stablecoins could place traditional banks at a greater disadvantage than crypto companies, according to Colin Butler, executive vice president of capital markets at Mega Matrix.

Butler said financial institutions have already invested heavily in digital asset infrastructure but remain unable to deploy it fully while lawmakers debate how stablecoins should be classified. “Their general counsels are telling their boards that you cannot justify the capital expenditure until you know whether stablecoins will be treated as deposits, securities, or a distinct payment instrument,” he told Cointelegraph.

Several major banks have already developed parts of the infrastructure needed to support stablecoins. JPMorgan developed its Onyx blockchain payments network, BNY Mellon launched digital asset custody services, and Citigroup has tested tokenized deposits.

“The infrastructure spend is real, but regulatory ambiguity caps how far those investments can scale because risk and compliance functions will not greenlight full deployment without knowing how the product will be classified,” Butler argued.

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Top stablecoins by market cap. Source: CoinMarketCap

On the other hand, crypto firms, which have operated in regulatory gray zones for years, would likely continue doing so. “Banks, by contrast, cannot operate comfortably in that gray area,” he added.

Related: USDC market cap nears record $80B amid ‘capital flight’ in UAE: Analyst

Yield gap could drive deposit migration

Another concern is the growing difference between returns available on stablecoin platforms and those offered by traditional bank accounts. Exchanges often offer between 4% and 5% on stablecoin balances, Butler said, while the average US savings account yields less than 0.5%.

He said history shows depositors move quickly when higher yields become available, pointing to the shift into money market funds in the 1970s. Today, the process could happen even faster, as transferring funds from bank accounts to stablecoins takes only minutes and the yield gap is larger.

Meanwhile, Fabian Dori, chief investment officer at Sygnum, said the competitive gap between banks and crypto platforms is meaningful but not yet critical. He said a large-scale deposit flight is unlikely in the immediate term, as institutions still prioritize trust, regulation and operational resilience.

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“But the asymmetry can accelerate migration at the margin, especially among corporates, fintech users, and globally active clients already comfortable moving liquidity across platforms,” Dori said. “Once stablecoins are treated as productive digital cash rather than crypto trading tools, the competitive pressure on bank deposits becomes much more visible,” he added.

Related: Stablecoins could form backbone of global payments in 10 years: Billionaire

Restrictions on yield could push activity offshore

Butler also warned that attempts to restrict stablecoin yield could unintentionally drive activity into less regulated areas. Under current US law, stablecoin issuers are prohibited from paying yield directly to holders. However, exchanges can still offer returns through lending programs, staking or promotional rewards.