Yeliz Akmaca 
The crypto market saw a notable development. On March 14, the Ethereum Foundation completed a 5,000 ETH sale via an over-the-counter (OTC) transaction. The deal, valued at around $10 million, had BitMine as the counterparty.
The foundation stated that the proceeds would fund core activities, including protocol research and ecosystem development. However, the choice of BitMine as the direct buyer immediately drew scrutiny.
Why the Ethereum Foundation Sold ETH
The Ethereum Foundation has previously faced market attention for token sales. This recent sale’s aim is clear: funding essential operations.
Revenue from the sale will support:
-
Protocol research
-
Network development
-
Community grants
-
Ecosystem growth programs
This marks a strategic shift. The foundation, which long kept its ETH holdings idle, has recently begun actively managing its treasury.
Last month, it staked 70,000 tokens, with the rewards directed toward ecosystem development and community grants.
0/ Today, the Ethereum Foundation finalized the terms of a 5,000 ETH sale at an average price of $2,042.96 via OTC.
For this sale, our OTC counterparty was @BitMNR.
— Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn) March 14, 2026
BitMine’s Growing Ethereum Position
The controversial part is the buyer. BitMine already ranks as one of Ethereum’s largest institutional holders, currently controlling:
-
Over 4.47 million ETH
-
Valued at approximately $9.07 billion
Last year, BitMine, led by Tom Lee, publicly stated its intention to acquire 5% of circulating ETH supply, executing aggressive purchases since then.
In Proof-of-Stake networks, voting power and consensus influence are directly linked to token holdings. Large accumulations by a single institution may conflict with Ethereum Foundation’s historic emphasis on decentralization and anti-monopoly principles.
Remaining Ethereum in the Foundation Treasury
After the sale, the foundation still holds over 200,000 ETH, valued at around $424 million.
This indicates a financial strategy shift. Previously, the foundation avoided active treasury management to prevent influencing network consensus, but now it leverages both sales and staking to fund operations.
Leadership Change and New Governance Manifesto
These developments coincide with recent leadership changes. Earlier this month, co-Executive Director Tomasz Stańczak resigned, with Bastian Aue stepping in temporarily.
The foundation also released a new governance manifesto, aligning its mission with decentralization and open-source principles. The document emphasizes avoiding protocols deemed “surveillance-friendly” or overly centralized.
Analysts note that the ETH sale and growing institutional holdings may rekindle debates about network centralization, especially in Proof-of-Stake environments.
Also, you can freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, please follow us on our Telegram, YouTube and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.