The recent transfer of $262 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) 
$2,563 by co-founder Jeffrey Wilcke has sparked concern in the cryptocurrency market. The ETH was moved from a previously inactive wallet to the Kraken exchange, raising questions about whether this was a signal for a major sell-off or simply a wallet management strategy. Despite these speculations, ETH prices have remained stable without any notable decline. This event has left market watchers wondering about Wilcke’s true intentions.
Speculations Surrounding Wilcke’s Kraken Transfer
Jeffrey Wilcke, Ethereum’s co-founder, transferred 105,000 ETH to Kraken after ETH surpassed $2,600. The timing fueled rumors of an impending large-scale sale. Wilcke’s silence on the matter amplified these speculations, as he only reshared news about the transaction. Interestingly, Wilcke executed a similar transaction in November 2024, after which ETH hit a local high and subsequently faced a sharp correction. This history adds to the anxiety of potential market impacts from his actions.
Besides the transaction’s nature, Wilcke’s lack of transparency creates an uncertain atmosphere in the market. In the past, his actions have influenced investors’ expectations and fueled panic-driven decisions.
Is This Fund Redistribution or Sale Preparation?
Although the transaction appeared as a potential sale, on-chain data suggest an alternate scenario. The ETH sent to Kraken was soon dispersed evenly across eight different addresses, hinting that Wilcke might be merely repositioning funds instead of planning a massive sale. This hypothesis offers some relief to investors, as it implies a less immediate threat to ETH’s market stability.
However, such large transactions directly impact investor psychology, especially when executed by high-profile individuals like Wilcke. While it can cause panic, Ethereum’s price has stayed around $2,600, and the overall ETH supply on exchanges hit a ten-year low at 4.9%. These indicators suggest reduced selling pressure and offer positive signals for long-term investors.
As Ethereum maintains its favorable trend, developer discussions on the potential bug in the EIP-7702 update continue. The outcome of this debate could affect the pace of innovations on the Ethereum network.
