
What Happened in the Latest ETH Sale?
An early Ethereum investor sold 11,552 ETH, worth approximately $23.4 million, in a series of transactions on Thursday, according to onchain data tracked by Lookonchain. The tokens were sold at an average price of around $2,027. The activity originated from a wallet identified as “0xd64A…7ED7,” which transferred a total of 18,500 ETH, or about $38.1 million, to another address before partial liquidation. The remaining balance has not been fully offloaded, indicating the investor still
holds exposure to ether. The address is linked to Ethereum’s
initial coin offering, where the investor acquired 38,800 ETH for roughly $12,000 at a price of $0.31 per token.
How Large Are the Returns for Early Investors?
The scale of returns highlights the long-term appreciation of ether despite recent price declines. At current levels, the original allocation would be valued at close to $80 million, representing a multiple of several thousand times the initial investment. The partial sale suggests a structured exit rather than a full liquidation, allowing the holder to realize gains while maintaining residual exposure. This pattern has been consistent among early Ethereum participants, many of whom accumulated large positions during the network’s early funding phase. Even after the recent transaction, the remaining holdings from ICO-era wallets continue to represent a potential source of future supply entering the market.
Investor Takeaway
ICO-era wallets still hold large unrealized gains and act as periodic sources of sell-side pressure. Partial liquidations indicate profit-taking behavior rather than full exits, which can extend supply over time instead of creating one-off shocks.
Is This Part of a Broader Trend Among Long-Term Holders?
The transaction follows a series of similar
moves by early Ethereum investors. Earlier in the week, another ICO-era wallet sold approximately 15,002 ETH, valued at around $31 million, after holding the assets for nearly a decade. That wallet transferred funds to Coinbase while retaining a portion of its holdings, reinforcing the pattern of staggered selling rather than complete divestment. These actions suggest that long-term holders are gradually reducing exposure after multiple market cycles, particularly in periods where liquidity conditions allow for large transactions without excessive market impact.
Investor Takeaway
Long-term holders are distributing supply into the market in phases. This creates a persistent overhang rather than a single event, influencing price behavior over extended periods.
How Is Ether Trading Amid These Flows?
Ether declined 2.6% over the past 24 hours to around $2,058, according to market data, and remains more than 50% below its August 2025 peak near $4,900. While individual transactions from early investors are unlikely to drive price movements on their own, cumulative selling from large, long-held wallets adds to overall market supply. This dynamic can weigh on
short-term price action, particularly in periods of reduced demand or lower trading volumes. The interaction between legacy holders reducing positions and new capital entering the market will
remain a key factor in determining ether’s medium-term price trajectory.