Soaring Ethereum Treasury Stock as Peter Thiel Secures Investment Stake
Peter Thiel Doubles Down on Ethereum with Major Investments in ETHZilla and BitMine
Peter Thiel, a technology billionaire and venture capitalist, has made significant investments in two Ethereum treasury-focused companies: ETHZilla and BitMine Immersion Technologies. Thiel's interest in Ethereum and its co-founder Vitalik Buterin dates back to 2014, when Founders Fund awarded Buterin a $100,000 grant to aid in the development of the protocol.
ETHZilla's Pivot to Ethereum Treasury Management
Previously focused on researching inflammatory diseases, ETHZilla has pivoted to stockpiling Ethereum. The company, formerly known as 180 Life Sciences, rebranded to ETHZilla to focus entirely on Ethereum treasury management and yield-generating programs. ETHZilla holds approximately $419 million worth of Ethereum, about 82,000 ETH at current valuations.
Thiel’s Founders Fund owns a 7.5% passive stake in ETHZilla, purchased as part of a financing round that raised $425 million through PIPE funding and $156.25 million via convertible notes in early August 2025. ETHZilla is working on launching an ETH staking program in partnership with Electric Capital, aiming to outperform traditional staking returns.
BitMine's Ambitious Ethereum Accumulation
BitMine Immersion is the largest Ethereum treasury company globally, holding nearly 1.2 million ETH (~$5 billion worth), pursuing a target to control 5% of Ethereum’s total supply. Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund owns around 9.1% of BitMine Immersion, a stake reported less than a month before the ETHZilla investment.
BitMine has expanded its at-the-market equity financing program to $24.5 billion to continue heavy Ethereum accumulation. The company's strategy centers on large-scale Ethereum accumulation with aspirations to dominate Ethereum treasury control.
The Emerging Corporate Ethereum Treasury Strategy
Thiel’s dual investments underscore his strong confidence in Ethereum's future and the emerging corporate Ethereum treasury strategy—where public companies hold large Ethereum treasuries to generate yield and capital appreciation instead of traditional business operations. This strategy has gained traction, with the second Trump administration being supportive of crypto industry policies, including those that integrate digital assets with traditional financial markets.
In addition to his investments in ETHZilla and BitMine, Thiel has been involved in various blockchain ventures, including centralized exchanges Bullish and Bitpanda, Ethereum layer-2 Layer N, and prediction market Polymarket. Thiel's longtime friend and business partner, David Sacks, currently serves as the president's AI and crypto czar.
The stock price of ETHZilla more than tripled on Tuesday following the news of Thiel's investment, closing at $10.24. The price of Ethereum hit $4,500 for the first time since 2021 on Tuesday amid a recent boom in ETH demand. Thiel's investments in ETHZilla and BitMine reflect his high-conviction bet on the long-term value appreciation of Ethereum.
- Peter Thiel, a tech billionaire and venture capitalist, has shown his confidence in Ethereum's future by making significant investments in two Ethereum treasury-focused companies, ETHZilla and BitMine.
- ETHZilla, previously known as 180 Life Sciences, has rebranded to focus solely on Ethereum treasury management and yield-generating programs, holding approximately $419 million worth of Ethereum.
- BitMine Immersion is the largest Ethereum treasury company globally, holding nearly 1.2 million ETH (~$5 billion worth), aiming to control 5% of Ethereum’s total supply.
- The emerging corporate Ethereum treasury strategy, where public companies hold large Ethereum treasuries to generate yield and capital appreciation, has gained traction, with the second Trump administration being supportive of crypto industry policies.
- Thiel's investments in ETHZilla and BitMine, along with his involvement in other blockchain ventures, reflect his high-conviction bet on the long-term value appreciation of Ethereum.
