Ethereum’s new year began with renewed attention to the Milady NFT scene after a high-profile avatar switch by its most famous co-founder.
Vitalik Buterin’s new year avatar movements and market impact
above January 1, 2026, Vitalik Buterinco-founder of Ethereumupdated the profile picture of X (formerly Twitter) to . Milady MakerA style image that resonates in the new year. The avatar change reportedly 8:00 a.m. Beijing time (UTC+0:00)which quickly caught the attention of the cryptocurrency and NFT communities.
The lowest price after the update is Milady NFT collections skyrocket 50%. moreover, Milady Maker Transaction sales soar +100% almost $500,000highlighting how strongly market participants still react to signals from key players in the ecosystem.
“Welcome to 2026! Milady is back,” Buterin wrote in the X post, which combined thoughts on the Avatar Switch and Ethereum’s progress. That said, the price reaction highlighted the NFT market’s continued sensitivity to perceived support from influential developers and cultural cues.
Ethereum milestones in 2025 set the backdrop
In the same post, Buterin said: Ethereum “We’ve done a lot in 2025,” he said, citing higher gas limits, increased blob counts, and improved node software quality as key protocol-level improvements. Furthermore, he emphasized that: zkEVM Achieved key performance milestones throughout the year.
Alongside zkEVM, Buterin noted: PearDAS This comes as part of Ethereum’s biggest step toward becoming a more fundamentally scalable network. However, the timing of his avatar change alongside these accomplishments has understandably led to speculation that his choice of image may be indicative of broader plans regarding NFTs and the availability of data on Ethereum.
Previous avatar switching and price reaction in early 2025
Buterin has a history of changing his avatar to support projects or just for fun, and these moves often garner attention. as soon as possible 2025the Ethereum co-founder also updated his X avatar to a Milady Maker NFT, which coincided with another sharp market move.
Due to the last change, the minimum price of the collection has increased significantly, 50%. Moreover, his decision sparked a substantial and heated debate over whether such visible profile changes could be interpreted as endorsements and could influence investor behavior in ways that raised ethical questions.
This latest switch has once again raised concerns among some observers about potentially influencing signals. milady nft community and speculative flow, even if Buterin’s stated intent was primarily a cultural nod and New Year’s greeting.
What is Milady Maker and why it remains controversial?
Release year 2021, Milady Maker A globally recognized non-fungible token project created by a digital asset company Remilia Corporation. This collection combines cult popularity with ongoing controversy, making it one of the most talked about Ethereum-based PFP series.
This project includes the following limited editions: 10,000 Generate PFP NFT on Ethereum defined by 2000s Tokyo’s “neo-chibi” aesthetic. Additionally, the art emphasizes Y2K street style, with a so-called “drip” score taking precedence over traditional scarcity metrics, allowing it to stand out in a crowded NFT environment.
Milady Maker has also gained notoriety through memes and occasional shout-outs from celebrities such as: Elon Musk. But discussions about collections often extend beyond simple price action, with repeated debates over their community, lore, and design philosophy.
Beeple’s reaction and speculation regarding Ethereum and NFT collaboration
Buterin’s latest avatar shift quickly caught the attention of prominent digital artists Beeple. above January 2, 2026Beeple included references to a new Milady-themed avatar in its daily artwork, reinforcing the idea that the cultural signals surrounding Ethereum and NFTs remain strong.
In the illustration, Beeple suggested that Buterin might be “cooking” something important on Earth. Ethereum Blockchain, Milady Maker team may be involved. Additionally, this depiction has stimulated market buzz that such a combination could herald deeper experimentation with NFT infrastructure, culture, or new on-chain applications.
Beeple shared the piece on X with the caption “TIME TO COOK,” further fueling speculation that something bigger could be brewing in the NFT ecosystem. So far, however, no formal cooperation or technical efforts have been announced by either side.
Milady and Ethereum’s NFT Culture Prospects
The quick movement of Milady’s lowest price and trading volume once again highlighted how emotion, culture, and liquidity are intertwined in the NFT market. But absent a clear announcement, the latest avatar changes remain best understood as symbolic gestures rather than confirmed roadmap guidance.
For now, traders and collectors will continue to monitor Buterin’s public signals and the artwork of creators like Beeple for clues to Ethereum’s evolving NFT story. In summary, this episode highlights how a single profile photo exchange by key ecosystem leaders can move both conversation and capital across the digital art and collectibles space.