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Vitalik Buterin’s address has transferred over $8 million worth of Ether to a new wallet.
Buterin, the co-founder of the Ethereum network, transferred 3,000 Ether (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/ethereum-price">ETH</a>) tokens worth over $8 million to a new <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/learn/what-is-multisignature-wallet">multisignature wallet</a>.
The transfer could signal Buterin’s intention to make a potential donation, <a href="https://x.com/lookonchain/status/1821713599624265841" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">according</a> to an Aug. 9 X post by Lookonchain. The blockchain intelligence firm wrote:
<blockquote data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 “vitalik.eth transferred 3,000 $ETH ($8.05M) to a multi-sig safe wallet 20 mins ago, possibly as a donation.”
</blockquote>
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-08/ef7710c2-e175-47b3-838e-c9ddf68644ef.jpeg" alt="Vitalik Buterin moves $8M Ether to new wallet — Possible donation ahead?" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Vitalik.eth wallet transfers. Source: Lookonchain
 </figcaption>
</figure>
The funds were sent to an unknown wallet, “0xfEB,” which could potentially belong to a charitable organization.
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ether-350m-unlocks-eth-price-2-2k">$350M Ether set for withdrawal in next 9 hours — Can ETH price remain above $2.2K?</a>
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="buterin-s-history-of-billion-dollar-crypto-donations">Buterin's history of billion-dollar crypto donations</h2>
The $8 million transfer wouldn’t be the first time that Buterin made a valuable <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-donations-amplify-speed-and-global-reach-during-crisis">cryptocurrency donation</a>.
Back in May 2021, Buterin donated over $1.2 billion worth of crypto to the Indian Covid-Crypto Relief Fund.
Buterin executed the billion-dollar charitable transfer via over 50 trillion Shiba Inu (<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/shiba-inu-price-index">SHIB</a>) tokens, blockchain data <a href="https://etherscan.io/tx/0xb65bcbb85c1633b0ab4e4886c3cd8eeaeb63edbb39cacdb9223fdcf4454fd2c7" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">shows</a>.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-08/e7c6bfd1-5588-4edb-8f4e-1c60b7977e61.png" alt="Vitalik Buterin moves $8M Ether to new wallet — Possible donation ahead?" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Buterin’s $1 billion SHIB donation. Source: Etherscan
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Buterin has also sent over $441 million worth of Akita (AKITA) coins to open-source bug bounty platform Gitcoin and has previously donated a high amount of dog-themed memecoins.
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/lamborghini-animoca-brands-web3-engagement">Wen Lambo? Lamborghini answers with new Animoca Web3 partnership</a>
<h3 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="crypto-donations-could-surpass-10-billion-in-a-decade">Crypto donations could surpass $10 billion in a decade</h3>
Crypto donations are gaining more ground due to <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-donations-amplify-speed-and-global-reach-during-crisis">amplifying speed and global reach</a> during a crisis, compared to less efficient donations via the legacy fiscal system.
According to crypto charity platform The Giving Block, <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-donations-to-surpass-10b-in-a-decade-the-giving-block">crypto donations are set to exceed $10 billion</a> in a decade.
According to The Giving Block’s 2023 annual report titled “Crypto Philanthropy Data, Trends &amp; Predictions,” all-time crypto donations in the platform <a href="https://twitter.com/TheGivingBlock/status/1641064459392122880" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">surpassed</a> $125 million in 2022. 
Based on the available data, the crypto charity project predicted that it could top $1 billion by August 2027, reach $5 billion in June 2031 and exceed the $10 billion mark in November 2032.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-08/5d13e04d-f541-4363-967c-8ea99fa3951d.png" alt="Vitalik Buterin moves $8M Ether to new wallet — Possible donation ahead?" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Predictions based on trends and Bitcoin price. Source: The Giving Block
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Beyond global crises, crypto donations are also gaining ground in politics. Earlier in May, former United States President <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/donald-trump-crypto-campaign-donations">Donald Trump announced</a> that his presidential campaign would accept cryptocurrency donations.
Magazine: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/china-crypto-tapper-cults-scam-wazirx-asia-express/">Chinese boomers joining crypto tapper cults, WazirX fallout worsens: Asia Express</a>

Vitalik Buterin moves $8M Ether to new wallet — Possible donation ahead?

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