ETHZilla Storms NASDAQ with $419M Ethereum War Chest – DeFi Goes Mainstream

Crypto's sleeping giant just woke up—and Wall Street's trading desks are scrambling. ETHZilla's Nasdaq debut today marks a watershed moment for Ethereum-based assets, backed by a staggering $419 million in locked ETH.

The institutional invasion accelerates

Traditional finance's 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' strategy hits ludicrous speed as yet another crypto vehicle gets the ticker treatment. Remember when ETFs were controversial? Now we're packaging blockchain exposure like cereal boxes.

Liquidity tsunami incoming

Market makers are salivating over the arbitrage opportunities—because nothing says 'efficient markets' like a 20% spread between spot and synthetic ETH. At least the SEC stopped pretending to understand the underlying tech years ago.

The closer: While suits high-five over 'innovation,' remember this is the same crowd that needed a blockchain ETF to buy what you've been stacking since gas fees were tolerable. Some bridges only go one way.

TLDR

• ETHZilla Lists on Nasdaq with $419M in ETH, Shifts Focus to Ethereum Treasury
• ETHZilla Debuts on Nasdaq as Public ETH Vehicle with $419M in Ether Holdings
• ETHZilla Launches with Ethereum Focus, $419M ETH Portfolio, $187M in Cash
• Rebranded ETHZilla Now Trades as ETHZ, Holding 94K ETH and Eyeing More
• ETHZilla Starts Trading Under ETHZ, Blending Biotech Roots with ETH Strategy

ETHZilla Corporation officially began trading under the ticker symbol ETHZ on the Nasdaq Capital Market today, August 18, 2025. The company, formerly known as 180 Life Sciences Corp., has completed a full rebrand to support its new ethereum treasury strategy. This shift positions ETHZilla as a focused accumulation vehicle for Ether (ETH), with a substantial digital asset portfolio now in place.

ETHZilla Debuts with Over $419 Million in ETH Holdings

ETHZilla has acquired 94,675 ETH at an average purchase price of $3,902.20, which is now valued at approximately $419 million. This ETH acquisition follows the company’s successful $425 million private placement and $156.25 million convertible note offering. In addition to its Ethereum holdings, ETHZilla maintains a USD cash position of around $187 million.

The capital raised enabled the company to execute its accumulation strategy effectively and efficiently. ETHZilla is leveraging its capital to expand ETH exposure while maintaining financial flexibility. The company focuses on maximizing returns through advanced blockchain-based financial tools.

Electric Capital, now ETHZilla’s external asset manager, is tasked with managing ETH-based yield generation. Their planned on-chain strategy aims to exceed traditional staking methods without compromising risk protocols. ETHZilla expects to generate additional returns using staking, lending, liquidity provisioning, and bespoke private agreements.

Ticker Transition to ETHZ Reflects Strategic Ethereum Alignment

ETHZilla now trades under “ETHZ” for its common stock and “ETHZW” for its public warrants, replacing “ATNF” and “ANTFW.” This branding change requires no action from shareholders and aligns with the company’s long-term treasury focus. Through its Ethereum-centric market positioning, ETHZilla aims to build identity and transparency.

Leadership has confirmed its intention to develop a market-first approach for Ethereum participation in public markets. The strategy reflects a growing interest in crypto-native financial infrastructure within public equities. As ETHZilla begins trading, the brand signals a broader push to connect blockchain assets to traditional finance.

The company plans to support legacy operations in biotech and iGaming while focusing on Ethereum accumulation. ETHZilla’s operational pivot seeks to blend legacy monetization with ETH-driven capital strategies. This dual-track approach enables strategic diversification without losing focus on Ethereum’s Core value.

ETHZilla Backed by Leading Ethereum Ecosystem Founders

Over 60 institutional and crypto-native entities participated in ETHZilla’s private placement. Notable names include Electric Capital, Polychain Capital, GSR, and Borderless Capital. ETHZilla also gained support from Ethereum ecosystem leaders such as Robert Leshner, Tarun Chitra, and Sreeram Kannan.

These participants add weight to ETHZilla’s treasury strategy and Ethereum market integration. Their involvement highlights a broader institutional interest in ETHZilla’s structured approach. The company is building a network to reinforce both asset management and strategic blockchain partnerships.

The ETHZilla brand represents a significant transformation from its biotech origins into a blockchain-centric capital allocator. Through a strong Ethereum treasury and NASDAQ listing, ETHZilla aims to establish itself as a public ETH vehicle.