Ethereum Foundation faces pressure as it continues 100 ETH sales amid market drops

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has continued its ETH sales by selling 100 ETH for $307,893.

This transaction, reported on Jan. 27 by blockchain analytics firm SpotOnChain, marks the Foundation’s third Ethereum sale of 2025.

In total, EF sold 300 ETH, valued at roughly $981,200, during the first month of the year.

Market observers noted that the Foundation’s actions have added pressure to Ethereum’s price, which dropped by more than 7% in the past 24 hours amid a broader market decline. As of press time, ETH was trading just above the $3,000 mark, according to CryptoSlate’s data.

Despite this, the Foundation holds significant ETH reserves. According to Arkham Intelligence’s data, the organization owns 269,175 ETH, valued at $817 million.

Calls for changes grow.

The recent sales come as the Ethereum Foundation navigates significant challenges as calls for innovation and internal restructuring grow louder.

The rise in popularity of rival blockchains, like Solana, has amplified Ethereum’s need to enhance its offerings and innovate within its ecosystem to maintain its edge against these emerging competitors.

Justin Sun, Tron’s blockchain founder, proposed that Ethereum focus on improving user experiences to attract developers and institutions. He also suggested staking the Foundation’s assets and refraining from further ETH sales to stabilize the ecosystem.

Paradigm, a leading crypto research and investment firm, has echoed the need for change. The firm argues that Ethereum’s annual upgrade schedule limits its capacity to innovate and respond to market trends effectively.

According to the firm:

“Accelerating Ethereum development will make permissionless innovation accessible to more people, helping pave the way for a truly global, trust-minimized financial system.”

In response to mounting pressure, the Ethereum Foundation announced plans to allocate 50,000 ETH—approximately $165 million—to support its decentralized finance ecosystem.

Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also promised reforms to increase transparency and better support developers.

However, he has rejected calls for Executive Director Aya Miyaguchi’s resignation and denounced the campaigns targeting the Foundation.

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