Vitalik Buterin switch to a Milady NFT avatar sparks fresh rally in controversial collection
Ethereum’s new yr began with renewed consideration on the Milady NFT scene after a high-profile avatar change by its most well-known co-founder.
Vitalik Buterin’s new yr avatar transfer and market impression
On January 01, 2026, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, up to date his X (previously Twitter) profile image to a Milady Maker-style picture to ring within the new yr. The avatar change reportedly took impact at 8:00 a.m. Beijing Time (UTC+0:00), instantly drawing consideration from the crypto and NFT group.
Following the replace, the ground worth of the Milady NFT assortment surged by over 50%. Furthermore, the Milady Maker buying and selling gross sales quantity skyrocketed by +100% to almost $500,000, underscoring how strongly market members nonetheless react to indicators from main ecosystem figures.
“Welcome to 2026! Milady is again,” Buterin wrote in his X put up, pairing the avatar change with reflections on Ethereum’s progress. That stated, the value response highlighted the continuing sensitivity of NFT markets to perceived endorsements and cultural cues from influential builders.
Ethereum milestones in 2025 set the backdrop
In the identical put up, Buterin famous that Ethereum “did loads in 2025.” He cited greater fuel limits, an elevated blob rely, and higher node software program high quality as key protocol-level enhancements. Moreover, he emphasised that zkEVMs hit main efficiency milestones over the yr.
Alongside zkEVMs, Buterin pointed to PeerDAS as a part of Ethereum’s largest step towards turning into a extra basically scalable community. Nevertheless, the timing of the avatar change alongside these achievements naturally invited hypothesis that his alternative of picture may trace at broader plans for NFTs and knowledge availability on Ethereum.
Earlier avatar change and worth response in early 2025
Buterin has a historical past of adjusting his avatars to assist tasks or just for enjoyable, and these strikes usually entice consideration. In early 2025, the Ethereum co-founder up to date his X avatar to a Milady Maker NFT as nicely, which coincided with one other sharp market transfer.
That earlier change triggered a major surge within the assortment’s ground worth, which jumped by greater than 50%. Furthermore, his choice stirred a considerable and heated debate over whether or not such seen profile adjustments may very well be interpreted as endorsements, and whether or not they may affect investor habits in ways in which elevate moral questions.
This newest change once more raised issues amongst some observers about indicators that might have an effect on the milady nft group and speculative flows, even when Buterin’s said intent was primarily a cultural nod and new yr greeting.
What’s Milady Maker and why it stays controversial
Launched in 2021, Milady Maker is a globally acknowledged non-fungible token undertaking created by digital asset firm Remilia Company. The gathering has grow to be one of the vital talked-about Ethereum-based PFP sequence, combining cult reputation with ongoing controversy.
The undertaking encompasses a restricted version of 10,000 generative PFP NFTs on Ethereum, outlined by a 2000s Tokyo “neochibi” aesthetic. Moreover, the artwork emphasizes Y2K avenue type, the place so-called “drip” scores take priority over conventional rarity metrics, serving to it stand out in a crowded NFT panorama.
Milady Maker has additionally gained notoriety by way of memes and occasional shout-outs from high-profile figures corresponding to Elon Musk. Nevertheless, recurring debates round its group, lore, and design philosophy have ensured that dialogue of the gathering usually extends past easy worth motion.
Beeple’s response and hypothesis about Ethereum-NFT alignment
Buterin’s newest avatar shift rapidly attracted the eye of outstanding digital artist Beeple. On January 2, 2026, Beeple included a reference to the brand new Milady-themed avatar in his day by day paintings, reinforcing the concept that cultural indicators round Ethereum and NFTs stay highly effective.
Within the illustration, Beeple prompt that Buterin may be “cooking” one thing substantial on the Ethereum blockchain, doubtlessly involving the Milady Maker staff. Furthermore, the depiction fueled market chatter that such a mixture may herald deeper experimentation with NFT infrastructure, tradition, or new purposes on-chain.
Beeple captioned the piece “TIME TO COOK” and shared it on X, additional amplifying hypothesis that one thing greater may very well be brewing within the NFT ecosystem. That stated, no formal collaboration or technical initiative has been introduced publicly by both aspect to this point.
Outlook for Milady and Ethereum’s NFT tradition
The swift transfer in Milady’s ground worth and buying and selling quantity as soon as once more underlined how tightly sentiment, tradition, and liquidity are intertwined in NFT markets. Nevertheless, with out clear bulletins, the newest avatar change stays finest understood as a symbolic gesture somewhat than confirmed roadmap steerage.
For now, merchants and collectors will seemingly proceed watching Buterin’s public indicators, in addition to paintings from creators like Beeple, for clues on Ethereum’s evolving NFT narrative. In abstract, the episode highlights how a single profile image swap by a key ecosystem chief can nonetheless transfer each dialog and capital throughout the digital artwork and collectibles area.
