TL;DR
- An early Ethereum ICO participant sold $60 million in ETH after achieving a 9,500x return, emphasizing the scale of early investor gains.
- Despite this exit, the top 1% of ETH addresses keep increasing holdings, showing ongoing confidence.
- Renewed U.S. Ether ETF inflows strengthen the signal that institutional demand remains active and aligned with large-scale accumulation.
Ether remains in the spotlight after a notable sale by an early ICO investor. The transaction emerges as the top 1% of ETH holders continue adding tokens, reinforcing the perception of long-term confidence in the network’s evolution. Market participants also highlight that movements from early wallets often serve as reference points for understanding long-term holding behavior and overall supply concentration within the ecosystem.
Ethereum ICO Wallet Activity Draws Market Interest
The wallet linked to the ICO completed a $60 million ETH sale, closing another chapter of a position held for more than a decade. The participant initially acquired ETH at roughly $0.31 and has maintained a pattern of gradual selling since September. According to Lookonchain, the original stash—worth over $750 million—shows how early allocations matured over time. The methodical unloading suggests strategic profit-taking rather than any urgency, reinforcing the idea that early stakeholders often manage liquidity carefully to avoid disrupting broader market conditions.
On-chain analysts note that movements from legacy wallets often appear during periods of internal repositioning. Even so, these transactions do not interrupt the broader pattern of accumulation among major holders, which has remained consistently active throughout recent market cycles. Several analysts add that the distribution phase among early participants is far smaller than the pace of ongoing accumulation from large and mid-sized addresses.
Top 1% Keep Accumulating ETH
Data from Glassnode reveals that the top 1% now control 97.6% of ETH supply, marking a clear increase compared to the previous year. This expansion coincides with a rebound in institutional appetite, reflected in positive inflows into U.S. Ether ETFs after several sessions of outflows. Farside Investors reports $60 million entering these products, highlighting renewed engagement from investors seeking regulated exposure.
Market behavior aligns with higher ETH derivatives activity and steady expectations surrounding upcoming network upgrades. These dynamics indicate that experienced market participants continue to rebuild exposure selectively, leveraging price softness to strengthen long-term allocations.
The combination of the ICO investor’s sale and ongoing accumulation illustrates a market where large holders maintain strong conviction in Ethereum’s future relevance, supported by persistent institutional inflows and a structural preference for ETH among the biggest addresses.
