Vitalik backs simpler Ethereum on Dec. 17; whale shifts $1.8B, exchange ETH at 2016 low

On Dec. 17, Vitalik Buterin urged simplifying Ethereum's protocol to widen independent understanding and strengthen trust. Separately, an ETH whale shifted about $1.8 billion into seven new wallets after unstaking, according to X user TedPillows. Data charted by CryptoQuant indicate exchange-held ETH has dropped to its lowest share since 2016.