The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has executed a sale of 1,000 ETH, valued at approximately $4.5 million at current prices, as part of its ongoing treasury management to fund ecosystem development. Announced via an official X post on October 3, 2025, the transaction was conducted using CoW Swap’s TWAP (Time-Weighted Average Price) feature to minimize market impact, converting the ETH into stablecoins for research, grants, donations, and to showcase DeFi’s potential. For crypto developers, investors, and Ethereum enthusiasts searching Ethereum Foundation sells 1000 ETH, EF treasury sale 2025, or Ethereum R&D funding, this move aligns with the foundation’s quarterly strategy, marking the 17th ETH sale of the year and leaving its holdings at around 222,720 ETH (valued at $1 billion). Community reactions are mixed: Some praise the transparency and DeFi demonstration, while others express frustration over perceived “dumping” during price recoveries, though the sale’s small size (0.45% of holdings) had negligible impact on ETH’s price, which traded around $4,500.
This sale follows a pattern of modest, predictable disposals to sustain Ethereum’s innovation without relying on external funding.
Sale Details: TWAP on CoW Swap for Minimal Impact
The EF utilized CoW Swap—a decentralized exchange aggregator—to execute the sale over several weeks via TWAP orders, ensuring competitive pricing and low slippage. The proceeds will directly support core activities like protocol upgrades, developer grants, and community donations.
- Amount Sold: 1,000 ETH (~$4.5 million at $4,500/ETH).
- Method: TWAP on CoW Swap for gradual execution.
- Holdings Post-Sale: ~222,720 ETH ($1 billion value).
- Purpose: R&D, grants, donations; highlights DeFi efficiency.
EF’s X post stated: “Today, The Ethereum Foundation will convert 1000 ETH to stablecoins via @CoWSwap’s TWAP feature, as part of our ongoing work to fund R&D, grants and donations, and to highlight the power of DeFi.”
| Metric | Pre-Sale | Post-Sale | Value Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Holdings | 223,720 | 222,720 | -0.45% |
| USD Value | ~$1.007B | ~$1.002B | -$4.5M |
| Annual Sales (2025) | 17 Sales | N/A | ~$80M Total |
Treasury Strategy: Sustainable Funding for Ecosystem Growth
The EF’s sales are part of a transparent treasury policy updated in June 2025, which calculates fiat needs quarterly and sells ETH in small, predictable batches to avoid market disruption. This approach has funded over $100 million in grants since 2020, supporting upgrades like Dencun and Pectra.
- Rationale: Maintains ETH exposure while generating liquidity for non-profit operations.
- DeFi Emphasis: Using CoW Swap demonstrates protocol-native tools, aligning with Ethereum’s ethos.
- Community Feedback: Mixed—praise for transparency, but some call for alternatives like staking yields.
Crypto researcher Naly suggested: “Supply ETH on Aave, earn interest, borrow stablecoins,” to preserve upside.
ETH Market Context: Recovery Amid Sales
ETH traded at ~$4,500 on October 3, up 12% from September lows, with the sale having minimal impact due to its size. The foundation’s holdings represent 0.18% of ETH supply, a non-profit buffer for development.
- 2025 Sales: 17 transactions totaling ~$80 million, vs. $12.61 million in 2024.
- Price Resilience: Up 50% YTD, driven by ETF inflows and L2 scaling.
Conclusion: EF’s ETH Sale: Transparency in Treasury
The Ethereum Foundation’s 1,000 ETH sale for R&D funding is a routine step in sustainable ecosystem support, executed transparently via DeFi. As holdings dip to 222,720 ETH, it reinforces Ethereum’s commitment to innovation. For the community, it’s a trade-off—will staking alternatives emerge? The grants flow. yahoo
