A decade later, that idea has made him one of the wealthiest figures in crypto.
Arkham Intelligence now estimates Buterin’s net worth at just over $1 billion, a milestone that reflects both Ethereum’s resilience and his own staying power as the project’s most active co-founder. His holdings are dominated by roughly 240,000 ETH, giving his wealth a direct tether to the market’s second-largest cryptocurrency. Each time ETH has pushed past $3,000 — including its rallies in 2021, 2024, and again this year — Buterin has rejoined the billionaire ranks.
Buterin’s wealth has never been static. In 2020, the anonymous creator of Shiba Inu (SHIB) transferred half the token’s supply to his wallet, instantly making him one of the richest people in crypto history. At the peak of SHIB’s hype, that stash alone was valued near $20 billion. Rather than cash out, Buterin burned or donated most of it, deflating his paper fortune but boosting his reputation in the process.
Beyond SHIB, his portfolio includes a mix of venture stakes and altcoins, from StarkNet to smaller experimental tokens like MOODENG and WHITE. These positions are far smaller than his ETH trove but illustrate his interest in supporting new experiments across the crypto landscape.
What sets Buterin apart from most of Ethereum’s early team is his enduring presence. While other founders moved on, he remained at the center of the network’s evolution. He played a decisive role in shepherding Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake in 2022, an overhaul that reshaped the blockchain’s energy use and economics.
His wealth itself traces back to Ethereum’s earliest days. In 2014, 16.5% of ETH’s supply was distributed to the founding team, and Buterin’s share became the foundation of a fortune that continues to rise and fall with the asset’s price.
Today, Buterin is not only the largest individual ETH holder but also one of the few billionaires whose fortune is almost entirely tied to a single open-source protocol. Exchanges and custodians collectively control larger wallets, but among individuals, his dominance is unmatched.
From coding forums in 2011 to global stages in 2025, Buterin’s journey underscores how ideas can turn into industries — and how those industries can mint fortunes as volatile as the markets they’re built on.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any specific investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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