Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has once again made headlines with a substantial donation to a Swiss project called Zuitzerland. Isla, a Web3 researcher developing the project, received 274 ETH, equivalent to approximately $500,000, from Buterin, according to reports. This generous donation was identified by Onchain Lens, a blockchain monitoring site that tracks fund transfers.
This step is not surprising for those familiar with Buterin’s philanthropic pursuits and innovative projects. Zuitzerland is seen as an extension of Buterin’s earlier Zuzalu experiment, which aimed to unite like-minded individuals and explore proposals related to technology, longevity, and decentralized governance.
Ethereum Donation: What Is Zuitzerland?
The Zuitzerland initiative grows from the concepts introduced during the Zuzalu experiment, a short-term community project initiated by Buterin from March to May 2023 in Montenegro. Zuzalu brought together approximately 200 participants who lived and collaborated over two months, exchanging ideas and working on projects through workshops, discussions, and social activities.
Just in: Vitalik (@VitalikButerin) has sent 274.1 $ETH ($500k), as a grant or donation to a contract deployed by @0xisla, who is building @zuitzerland.
Vitalik’s Address: 0xd8da6bf26964af9d7eed9e03e53415d37aa96045
Contract Address: 0x69649512c97c630c4f06a21e09e71f0362ca74ec… pic.twitter.com/NusZDSp7tn
— Onchain Lens (@OnchainLens) April 1, 2025
Zuitzerland takes this concept further by organizing residencies, hackathons, and citywide events that cater to individuals with common interests. The platform promotes collaboration between “thinkers and builders.” Although Buterin is not one of the founders of the project, he is recognized as a speaker and curator on its official site, signifying his continued support and involvement.
Funding Through Token Sales
Buterin’s contribution was partly financed through the sale of tokens he had previously received as gifts from various crypto projects. According to on-chain statistics, Buterin sold 5,000 Dohrnii (DHN) tokens for $93,882 and 2 trillion LEDOG (DOG) tokens for $16,569 on March 31, 2025. The total proceeds from these sales culminated in the donation of 274 ETH to Isla.
This is not the first instance where Buterin has sold tokens gifted to him for charitable causes. In 2022, he sold some Shiba Inu (SHIB) tokens that were presented to him for the purpose of donating to an Indian COVID-19 relief fund. He has repeatedly urged token issuers to consider donating directly to charitable organizations rather than channeling gifts to him.
A History Of Token Donations
Dohrnii Labs, the creators of the DHN token, provided Buterin with 10,000 tokens in January 2025. Similarly, the developers of LEDOG sent him 10 trillion DOG tokens in August 2024. While these tokens often serve as tokens of appreciation, they also function as a marketing strategy for increased visibility. Buterin has methodically sold these tokens over time, using the proceeds for donations and other philanthropic endeavors.
As of now, Buterin still retains 2 trillion DOG tokens, according to blockchain data. Nonetheless, his actions exhibit a clear commitment to leveraging such assets to support initiatives like Zuitzerland, aligning with his vision for decentralized governance and community-driven innovation.
Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView
