Ethereum Foundation's Treasury Adjustment
On April 11, 2026, the Ethereum Foundation executed a financial transaction, liquidating 1,250 $ETH for $2.80 million in $DAI. Concurrently, the Foundation announced a strategic pause in its $ETH staking activities. The Foundation publicly stated these actions were a strategic pivot towards increased liquidity and treasury reallocation. The $ETH price at the time was approximately $2,239.66.
Community Response and Accusations
The Foundation's liquidation and staking pause generated a negative response. A social media post detailing the actions registered a sentiment score of -61, indicating strong disapproval, garnering 7 likes and 310 views. Another related post also showed a negative sentiment score of -4. Within hours, accusations emerged within the community, alleging the $ETH sale was undertaken primarily to cover operational expenses, specifically employee salaries, rather than solely for strategic treasury adjustment. This criticism included comparisons to the financial management practices of other major blockchain entities.
Network Financials and Broader Market Context
Ethereum recorded a daily on-chain revenue of $48,000 on the day of the sale. On April 10, 2026, the day prior to the Foundation's sale, US spot crypto ETFs recorded substantial inflows. $ETH ETFs alone saw an influx of $64.95 million, corresponding to an addition of 28,860 $ETH. However, the market also experienced volatility, with $36.65 million in $ETH liquidations occurring across exchanges within the 24 hours leading up to April 11. Trading volumes for $ETH on Coinbase indicated active market participation, with figures such as 2.22 million in the last 60 minutes and 2.91 million in a 15-minute window.
Foundation's Stated Position and Ongoing Oversight
The Ethereum Foundation maintains its stated position regarding the strategic pivot towards enhanced liquidity and treasury reallocation. The Foundation has not issued further official elaboration directly addressing the community's salary accusations that emerged following the announcement.