Ethereum Institutional Momentum Accelerates as Huobi Founder Launches $1 Billion Trust
In a landmark development for cryptocurrency institutional adoption, Huobi founder Li Lin has successfully mobilized $1 billion to establish a dedicated Ethereum trust, signaling robust confidence in ETH's long-term prospects. The initiative brings together Asia's most influential crypto investors, including HongShan Capital (formerly Sequoia China) with a $500 million commitment and Avenir Capital, creating one of the largest institutional vehicles focused exclusively on Ethereum. This substantial capital deployment underscores the growing institutional recognition of Ethereum's ecosystem value and its pivotal role in the decentralized finance landscape. The trust's innovative structure utilizing a Nasdaq-listed shell company provides regulated exposure to Ethereum, addressing a critical need for institutional investors seeking compliant access to digital assets. This development represents a significant milestone in cryptocurrency maturation, potentially setting new benchmarks for institutional participation in the Ethereum network. The timing of this massive capital infusion coincides with Ethereum's ongoing technological upgrades and ecosystem expansion, suggesting sophisticated investors are positioning for the network's continued evolution and value appreciation. This move by prominent Asian investors also highlights the shifting geographical dynamics in cryptocurrency investment, with Asian capital taking increasingly leadership roles in shaping digital asset markets. The $1 billion trust not only provides immediate liquidity and validation for Ethereum but also establishes a precedent for future institutional-grade investment vehicles in the cryptocurrency space.
Huobi Founder Li Lin Raises $1B With Partners to Accumulate Ethereum
Huobi founder Li Lin has mobilized a consortium of Asia's most influential crypto investors to launch a $1 billion Ether-focused trust. The initiative, backed by HongShan Capital and Avenir Capital, signals accelerating institutional demand for Ethereum's ecosystem.
The trust will leverage a Nasdaq-listed shell company to provide regulated exposure, with $500 million committed by HongShan (formerly Sequoia China) and $200 million from Li's Avenir Capital. Shen Bo of Fenbushi Capital, HashKey's Xiao Feng, and Meitu founder Cai Wensheng round out the powerhouse roster.
Market observers note the timing coincides with growing institutional appetite for crypto infrastructure. The structured vehicle offers a compliant on-ramp for traditional capital seeking Ether exposure without direct custody challenges.
Ethereum Vitalik Buterin Says, FHE and ZK Need Smarter Benchmarks
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sparked a fresh debate within the cryptography community by advocating for revised benchmarking standards for zero-knowledge proof (ZK) and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) systems. His proposal challenges conventional evaluation metrics, suggesting current methods fail to capture real-world performance nuances.
The discussion comes as ZK-proof technologies gain traction for scaling ethereum and enhancing privacy. Buterin's intervention could accelerate innovation in cryptographic primitives critical to blockchain's next evolution.
North Korean Hackers Deploy Crypto-Theft Malware via Smart Contracts
North Korean state-sponsored hackers have pioneered a novel attack vector by embedding malware within Ethereum smart contracts, according to Google's Threat Intelligence Group. The technique, dubbed EtherHiding, repurposes blockchain's Immutable ledger as a resilient command-and-control infrastructure—marking the first documented large-scale exploitation of decentralized protocols for malicious infrastructure.
GTIG reports tracking the threat actor UNC5342 since February 2025, observing their integration of EtherHiding into an ongoing social engineering campaign. The method proves particularly resistant to conventional takedown efforts, leveraging blockchain's inherent permanence to maintain operational continuity.
Palo Alto Networks' Contagious Interview campaign has been identified as the delivery mechanism, with Socket researchers noting the deployment of a new XORIndex malware loader. Targets include job seekers and individuals with digital asset holdings, accumulating thousands of compromised systems through fake recruitment lures.
The operation utilizes JADESNOW malware to distribute a JavaScript variant of INVISIBLEFERRET—a tool historically linked to cryptocurrency thefts. Primary victims span cryptocurrency developers and technology professionals, with attackers exfiltrating sensitive credentials, draining digital wallets, and infiltrating corporate networks.
Ethereum Price Prediction: Onchain Metrics Signal Strength Amid Rally
Ethereum extended its bullish momentum with a 4.04% daily gain, breaching the $3,880 threshold as institutional accumulation and network activity surged. The asset's $84 billion Total Value Locked (TVL) cements its DeFi dominance despite minor fluctuations.
Network fundamentals reveal robust demand: 612,377 daily active addresses and 1.6 million transactions underscore Ethereum's utility. Declining exchange reserves suggest holders are shifting from speculation to long-term positioning, with Asian investors reportedly earmarking $1 billion for ETH exposure.
Huobi Founder and Ethereum Backers Launch $1B Digital Asset Treasury Firm
Institutional interest in cryptocurrency exposure continues to surge as Huobi founder Li Lin teams with prominent Ethereum early adopters to establish a $1 billion digital asset treasury (DAT) vehicle. The group—including Hashkey Group CEO Xiao Feng and Fenbushi Capital's Shen Bo—aims to provide regulated ETH access, mirroring the success of crypto ETFs while expanding institutional adoption pathways.
The consortium is reportedly negotiating the acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed shell company to expedite the launch. This MOVE underscores 2025's dominant trend of DAT formations as traditional finance seeks structured crypto entry points. Ethereum remains the focal asset, though the trust may later broaden to other digital currencies.
BitMine Immersion Technologies Makes $281M Ethereum Power Move
BitMine Immersion Technologies has executed a $281 million Ethereum acquisition, signaling strong institutional confidence in ETH during market downturns. Large investors continue accumulating the asset at discounted prices, reinforcing its long-term value proposition.
The move highlights growing institutional adoption of Ethereum as a Core crypto holding. Market observers note this mirrors accumulation patterns seen during previous cycles, where savvy investors built positions during periods of weakness.
