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Quick Answer:
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, is a decentralized computing network that uses blockchain technology. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is designed to support decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts, allowing complex transactions and data storage without intermediaries.
Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, was one of the youngest crypto billionaires in 2021. After transferring most of his ETH, he had around $10,000 worth of Ether in his main wallet. He also made a significant donation to the India Covid Relief Fund.
Buterin owns various ERC-20 tokens and has disclosed holdings in Bitcoin, Zcash, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. His salary from the Ethereum Foundation is estimated to be between $140,000 and $250,000 per year.
The Ethereum Foundation holds approximately $1 billion in ETH. Ethereum, being at the forefront of the DeFi movement, could inspire individuals to invest in cryptocurrencies.
Nowadays, the crypto market offers lots of different cryptocurrencies you can invest in, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Ethereum or Ether (ETH).
You probably know Bitcoin already since it’s the world’s first and most popular cryptocurrency, but how much do you know about Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency and most popular platform for decentralized blockchain-based solutions?
And exactly how many ETH does Vitalik have? In 2021, after transferring most of his ETH, Vitalik is left with 10,000 USD worth of Ether in his main wallet. Read more about what Ether is and more about Vitalik Buterin below.
What Is Ethereum and How Does It Work?
As we already said, Ethereum is the second most popular digital currency, right after Bitcoin. However, Ethereum is in no way a direct competitor to BTC. Unlike Bitcoin, ETH isn’t designed to be just a store of value or a medium of exchange. Rather, it’s meant to be a decentralized computing network that is based on blockchain technology.
A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed, public ledger on which transactions are recorded and authenticated.
The Ethereum network is decentralized because it’s not maintained or operated by a central authority, such as a central bank. Instead, the network is maintained by Ether miners. The distribution part means that every user of the network has an identical copy of the ledger.
Blockchain technology uses cryptography in order to secure the network and confirm transactions. The users solve complex math problems in order to verify every transaction on the network and by doing that, they add new blocks on the blockchain, which is the foundation of the Ethereum ecosystem. For every new block that gets added to the blockchain, the users are rewarded with digital assets, known as tokens.
Ethereum’s coin is called Ether, although you’ll find that most people use the name Ethereum interchangeably for both the platform and the coin.
You can use Ether to sell and buy goods and services, just like you’d use Bitcoin. You can buy and sell Ethereum itself through cryptocurrency exchanges.
There are two things that are unique for the Ethereum DeFi system, however. The first one is that you can use the network to develop decentralized applications (DApps) that run on the blockchain. These apps can make complex financial transactions and transfer and store personal data. The second unique feature is smart contracts that allow two parties to set up the rules of their own transaction without the need for an intermediary.
Who Is Vitalik Buterin?
We’ve gone over a brief overview of the Ethereum network and coin, but we’re yet to cover who the Ethereum founder is. In fact, there are eight of them: Vitalik Buterin, Charles Hoskinson, Gavin Wood, Antony Di Iorio, Amir Chetrit, Jeffrey Wilcke, Mihai Alisie, and Joseph Lubin.
Vitalik Buterin, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, is a Russian-Canadian software developer and programmer born in 1994 in Moscow, Russia.
He is also known as the co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine in 2011. Buterin studied at a private high school in Toronto and attended the University of Waterloo, but he dropped out (it’s a trend in the tech industry) and devoted himself to the crypto world.
Vitalik Buterin presented the design for the Ethereum network for the first time in 2013, when he was only 19 years old, with a whitepaper intending to develop a general scripting language for developing apps that will be based on blockchain technology. In 2014, he was finally able to develop his project with the help of crowdfunding. The first version was presented to the public in 2015, and the Ether supply was hard-capped at 72 million ETH.
How Much Eth Does Vitalik Have?
Ethereum has seen huge surges in its value in the past two years because the mainstream economic world is increasingly embracing digital assets as a legitimate currency. As it’s the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world, you are probably assuming that a lot of people own ETH, but we’re interested in learning how much ETH its founder owns.
In October 2018, Vitalik Buterin disclosed his public Ether wallet, i.e. the main cryptocurrency wallet where he stores his Ether. This wallet held over 355,000 ETH, and as the volatility of Ethers’ price constantly fluctuates, you can check Ethers’ current value to see what that adds up to today.
In August of 2021, for instance, that meant a little over one billion USD. This makes Buterin one of the youngest crypto billionaire.
In May of 2021, the Ethereum inventor transferred exactly 325,001 Ether to a separate crypto wallet, leaving only 10,000 USD worth of Ether in his main cryptocurrency wallet. On May 21st of the same year, Vitalik donated over 1 billion USD worth of crypto to India Covid Relief Funds.
How Much Bitcoin and What Coins Does Vitalik Own?
Vitalik doesn’t only own Ether but a variety of ERC-20 tokens in the Ethereum blockchain as well. These are tokens that are developed on the Ethereum platform, such as Augur (REP), Maker (MKR), OmiseGo (OMG), and Kyber Network (KNC). These tokens are gaining increasing traction in the DeFi industry over time.
Vitalik Buterin also said that he owns Bitcoin, Zcash, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash worth over 10% of the value of Ether in his ownership. Buterin’s other cryptocurrency holdings are approximate: 2,000 BTC; 140,000 ZEC; 58,000 BTC; and 3.6 million DOGE.
Vitalik Buterin doesn’t earn only from cryptocurrency holdings.
He has disclosed that he earns a six-figure salary from the Ethereum Foundation. Moreover, he has stated that his salary is roughly 144,000 USD per year. However, the current salary of Vitalik Buterin is estimated to be somewhere between 140,000 and 250,000 USD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the most Ethereum coins?
The owner of the most ETH coins is Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, and Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of IOHK.
How much eth does the Ethereum foundation have?
The Ethereum Foundation has approximately $1 billion dollars worth of ETH. This number fluctuates based on how much money they are able to raise through their ICO.
A Few Words Before You Go…
Hopefully, you’ve got a good idea of Ethereum and how it works.
The goal of this article was to give you an insight into the wealth of the youngest crypto billionaire Vitalik Buterin, but maybe this article will also inspire you to start investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or other cryptos like Cardano and Shiba Inu, the future of the global economy.
You can also read more about Vitalik Buterin net worth here.
About The Author
Written by
Crypto Technical Writer
James Page, previously the lead writer at Crypto Head and a registered psychologist, brings a unique perspective to the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
His extensive experience in the industry and ability to present complex concepts in an understandable manner make his articles a valuable resource for readers seeking to navigate the ever-evolving crypto landscape.
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