Vitalik Buterin Dumps Neiro Meme Coin after Airdrop, Token Drops by Over 60%

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, I have witnessed the rise and fall of numerous digital assets. The recent events surrounding Vitalik Buterin and the Neiro token are an intriguing case study that offers insights into the complex dynamics of meme coins and their high-profile personalities.


Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, has offloaded all his Neiro tokens that were gifted to him by the creators of the meme coin. This action followed the Neiro team transferring 4% of their total token supply (17.145 billion Neiro) to Buterin. At the time the tokens were sent, this amount was equivalent to $130,000, thus making him the token’s largest owner.

Vitalik decided to cash out his entire 17.1 billion NEIRO tokens, converting them into approximately 44.5 ETH (valued at roughly $103,000 back then). This action led to a significant drop in the token’s value, with it falling by nearly 60%.

The Aftermath and the Neiro Team’s Response

Although some assumed that the Ethereum co-founder’s sale would significantly impact the Neiro token, it has instead experienced a 10% increase over the past 24 hours, as indicated by CoinGecko’s data.

Shortly following the stock drop, the Neiro team published an open letter to Buterin on their official site, proposing that he contribute a portion of the sale earnings towards a local animal shelter for strays.

Hey @VitalikButerin, we see that you sold your $Neiro bag.

Our humble ask is that you donate part of the proceeds to a stray dog shelter.

And thank you for building our playground!

— Neiro on Ethereum (CTO) (@neiroethcto) August 5, 2024

Initially, the Neiro team generously contributed $1600 to a Japanese shelter for strays named Chibawan, as part of their effort to make a positive impact on our planet.

Critics of Vitalik’s action are speaking up, particularly those who follow the Neiro meme coin. A cryptocurrency analyst on X, ONIGIRI, expressed his stance on this matter – he advocates for the concept of decentralization inherent in blockchain technology. This means that no individual, including Vitalik, should wield the power to derail a project. However, there are conflicting views as some question whether the token in question actually exists.

The Volatile Nature of Meme Coins in the Broader Market Downturn

The Neiro token, often referred to as a successor to Dogecoin, originates from the Ethereum blockchain. Its creation was influenced by Kabosu, the sibling of Shiba Inu, and it’s one of several coins sharing the name Neiro in the crypto market. However, it is crucial to understand that the specific Neiro token promoted by Vitalik is constructed on the Ethereum platform.

As an analyst, I’ve observed that the mass sell-off of Neiro tokens by Vitalik underscores the substantial impact key figures can exert over meme assets. For instance, Elon Musk significantly boosted DOGE, driving it to reach its peak value. During this time, DOGE garnered widespread popularity, with numerous individuals speculating that it might evolve into a utility token appealing to institutional investors.

The Neiro tale underscores the unpredictability typical of meme coins, which have suffered significant losses due to the overall market slump. Notable tokens such as Pepe, Dogwifhat, and Floki have all experienced a decline within the last day. Specifically, PEPE dropped by more than 24%, WIF by 18%, and FLOKI by an identical amount.

Read More

2024-08-05 14:49