ETHZilla Commits $100M ETH to Boost EtherFi via Restaking

• Move enhances Ethereum security while increasing treasury yields
• Signals institutional confidence in cutting-edge DeFi protocols

On September 2, 2025, The Block and PRNewswire reported ETHZilla Corporation, an Ethereum-focused digital asset treasury backed by investor Peter Thiel, announced its plan to deploy $100 million worth of ETH into EtherFi's liquid restaking protocol to generate higher yields on ETHZilla's treasury holdings while contributing to the security of the Ethereum network.

This marks ETHZilla’s first major venture into the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. "By deploying $100 million into liquid restaking, we're reinforcing Ethereum's security while unlocking incremental yield opportunities to enhance returns on our treasury holdings," said McAndrew Rudisill, Executive Chairman of ETHZilla. EtherFi’s Founder and CEO, Mike Silagadze, welcomed the announcement, characterizing it as a significant step in demonstrating institutional confidence in decentralized protocols.

Liquid restaking, a niche within the DeFi ecosystem, enables participants to stake ETH and receive liquid tokens in return. These liquid tokens can then be deployed in other blockchain applications, creating additional yield opportunities alongside enhanced network security. EtherFi, the largest protocol in this category by total value locked, continues to drive the sector’s growth, which has now surpassed $30 billion in TVL.

ETHZilla, publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHZ, has seen rapid expansion in its Ethereum treasury. By late August 2025, the company reported holdings of 102,246 ETH, valued at approximately $456 million — with an average acquisition price of $3,948.72 per token. Alongside its ETH reserves, ETHZilla retains over $221 million in cash equivalents, reinforcing its robust financial position as it pivots toward Ethereum-focused strategies.

Originally established as biotechnology firm 180 Life Sciences Corp., ETHZilla shifted to its Ethereum-centric focus through strategic backing from Thiel's Founders Fund, which acquired a 7.5% stake in the company. Subsequent fundraising efforts included $565 million raised via private placements and convertible note offerings with institutional investors such as Electric Capital and Polychain Capital.

As of September 2, 2025, at 15:13 UTC, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $4,333.11, reflecting a 1.18% decline in 24-hour trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap. EtherFi (ETHFI) is priced at $1.088, with a 4.19% change in 24-hour trading activity.