Vitalik Buterin Reaffirms Ethereum's Neutrality Amid Foundation Criticism

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, responded to criticism directed at the Ethereum Foundation by reaffirming its commitment to the neutrality of the protocol. In a post published on May 24, 2026, he stressed that the Foundation held less than 1% of the total supply of ETH , a striking contrast with other crypto foundations that often hold between 10% and 50% of their native token. This statement comes as voices are rising to criticize the growing influence of foundations over the blockchains they are supposed to support. The facts Vitalik Buterin clarified that the Ethereum Foundation owns only a marginal share of the ETH supply, namely less than 1%, which contrasts with the practices of other foundations in the crypto ecosystem. He also reaffirmed the Foundation's commitment to the neutrality of Ethereum, despite criticism of its role in protocol governance. According to internal data, Ethereum (ETH) shows a market capitalization of $267.58 billion and a trading volume of $410.76 million over 24 hours. The Ethereum Foundation has reduced its sales of ETH in recent months, a decision welcomed by investors concerned with decentralization. No details have been disclosed on the precise mechanisms of this reduction or on the criteria used by the Foundation. Vitalik Buterin also mentioned the CROPS framework as a central element of the Foundation's refocusing, without specifying its exact role. The Foundation published 5 releases over the last 90 days and 41 commits on GitHub in 4 weeks, according to internal data. Why it matters The neutrality of a blockchain like Ethereum rests on several pillars: decentralization, transparency and independence. Vitalik Buterin highlights the Foundation's low holding of ETH as a guarantee of neutrality. However, this claim is not enough to dispel all criticism, particularly regarding governance mechanisms or potential conflicts of interest. Buterin's statement could strengthen investor confidence in Ethereum (ETH) by reassuring them about the protocol's decentralization and neutrality. The token could benefit from a short-term technical rebound. In the longer term, this announcement could serve as a reference for other blockchains, encouraging their foundations to reduce their token reserves or adopt similar transparency policies. More transparent and decentralized governance could facilitate the institutional adoption of ETH , particularly in the context of discussions around Ethereum ETFs or blockchain-related financial products. However, other players such as large stakers or exchanges could exert a disproportionate influence, thereby limiting the network's absolute neutrality. Risks and limitations Vitalik Buterin's statement does not guarantee absolute neutrality, as other players could exert a disproportionate influence. Data on the Ethereum Foundation's reserves is not publicly audited, which limits the verifiability of its claims. The Foundation's reduction in ETH sales could be temporary or driven by cash-flow constraints rather than a long-term commitment. To watch Upcoming updates to the CROPS framework and their impact on Ethereum governance. Reactions from large stakers and DAOs regarding Ethereum's neutrality, particularly in terms of votes or governance proposals.