Vitalik Buterin, cofounder of Ethereum, has disclosed his annual salary at the Ethereum Foundation (EF) to be 182,000 SGD, approximately $139,500. This figure may seem modest compared to Buterin's personal net worth, which Forbes estimated to be $1.5 billion in 2022. As per data from blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence, Buterin currently holds about $625 million in cryptocurrency.
Ethereum Foundation's Spending Insights
Recently, Buterin shared insights from Josh Stark of EF regarding the organization's spending efforts. A significant objective of EF is to foster new organizations that could empower the Ethereum community. This involves providing grants to various entities such as the Nomic Foundation and 0xPARC Foundation. Internal spending supports EF teams including Geth, Soldigy, Devcon, and Next Billion. Stark emphasized, "All these teams work transparently and share information about their activities on websites, GitHubs, and social channels."
Understanding Grants and External Expenses
In terms of grants (external spending), EF has consistently supported a range of projects. For example, in the first quarter, funds were allocated to projects including Xerxis, Espacio Cripto, ETHKL, Borderless Africa, and Nethermind.
Market Reactions to EF's Transfers
The Ethereum Foundation frequently faces scrutiny due to its significant transfers to exchanges, which are often perceived as indicators of local market peaks. A notable instance occurred on August 23, when EF executed its largest transfer of 2024, causing a stir in the market. Stark pointed out that confirming the origin of such transfers is straightforward since EF's treasury is publicly visible on-chain.
The transparency of EF’s financial activities underscores the organization’s commitment to accountability, even as it navigates market dynamics and the evolving landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital assets.
