Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has rejected growing demands for the Ethereum Foundation (EF) to pivot toward aggressive token marketing and price support, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to “credible neutrality.” In a series of public remarks and a detailed post on X on May 24, 2026, Buterin clarified that the Foundation is a focused participant within the ecosystem rather than a central authority. He pushed back against critics who argue the non-profit should use its resources to bolster the ETH token price, which currently trades at approximately $2,094.
The push for a more commercial approach comes as Ethereum remains more than 50% below its all-time high of nearly $5,000, a peak reached in August 2025. While some investors have expressed frustration over the asset’s performance relative to high-throughput competitors, Buterin insisted that the EF’s mandate—formalized in March 2026—must prioritize long-term protocol integrity. He noted that many stakeholders want the Foundation to be the “center of Ethereum,” but he is taking action to ensure it remains just one node alongside others.
Support for the Foundation’s neutral stance remains high among core developers, even as some large holders have recently sold their full positions. This tension reflects a broader debate on whether the network should prioritize “points on the scoreboard” or technical decentralization. For those monitoring the network’s health, Ethereum network outlook trends show that activity on decentralized exchanges remains a core driver of the ecosystem regardless of price volatility.
Vitalik Buterin rejects calls for price support and marketing
Critics have intensified their pressure since the Dencun upgrade in March 2024, which lowered layer-2 fees but subsequently reduced base-layer revenue. Crypto journalist Laura Shin described this shift as a potential “original sin,” suggesting that Ethereum’s leadership failed to weigh tokenomics heavily enough in recent years. Buterin, however, argued that users do not need to agree on political topics or “corposlop” applications to find value in a neutral protocol.
Rather than chasing short-term market cycles, the Foundation intends to focus on censorship resistance, open-source development, and cybersecurity. Buterin stated that the Ethereum Foundation plans to sell less ETH going forward, emphasizing its role as a steward of longevity. This strategy directly counters requests for the EF to act more like a corporate entity with a dedicated marketing department focused on token demand.
The Foundation’s actual influence on the market is often overstated by its detractors. While critics worry about central control, the EF holds only 0.16% of all circulating ETH. This is a fraction of the 10% to 50% stakes typically held by other protocol foundations. Even as the Ethereum recovery outlook remains a topic of heavy speculation, the Foundation maintains that its minimal holdings preserve the network’s decentralized nature.
Treasury strategy and the 21,270 ETH unstaking
Financial transparency has become a focal point for the community following specific treasury movements. In May 2026, the Ethereum Foundation unstaked 21,270 ETH from the Lido liquid staking platform as part of its ongoing treasury management strategy. While the move drew scrutiny from those looking for signs of institutional “dumping,” Buterin framed these actions as necessary for the Foundation to fulfill its defined purpose without becoming a central point of failure.
Internal restructuring is also part of the broader effort to distance the Foundation from aggressive lobbying. Since January 2025, Buterin has overseen changes to the leadership structure aimed at bringing in fresh technical talent and improving communication. These shifts are intended to ensure the protocol functions independently of specific individuals, further insulating the network from the demands of short-term speculators.
Commitment to decentralization over market throughput
The co-founder’s refusal to prioritize marketing highlights a fundamental disagreement over Ethereum’s ultimate goal. Buterin clarified that the EF does not necessarily seek to compete with chains scaling to 1 million transactions per second if it requires sacrificing decentralization. This stance may frustrate those watching the scoreboard, but the Foundation argues it is essential for the protocol to remain a neutral settlement layer for a global audience.
Investors have become increasingly sensitive to these philosophical divides as macroeconomic factors put pressure on digital assets. For instance, Italy’s largest bank recently reported significant Bitcoin exposure, but Ethereum has faced a more difficult path toward securing similar institutional fervor in early 2026. The EF’s focus on “long-horizon research” over promotional campaigns suggests it is willing to trade market momentum for structural resilience.
As the “public note” and subsequent remarks on X suggest, Buterin believes Ethereum’s strength lies in its refusal to discriminate. While he acknowledged his own personal biases, he stressed that the protocol itself must not take sides. The Foundation will continue to act as one node among many, prioritizing the technical work that ensures censorship resistance and protocol security remain the network’s defining characteristics.