Chinese billionaire Jack Ma invests in Ethereum despite Beijing's ban on crypto trading.

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's company, Yunfeng Financial Group, is investing in Ethereum, buying 10,000 ETH valued at $44 million. This move comes despite Beijing's ban on cryptocurrency trading. Yunfeng's acquisition of Reorient Group in 2015 gave Ma indirect access to a public financial institution. The company aims to improve its technological foundation and pioneer Web3 innovation, reflecting its belief that Ethereum is a building block for future financial ecosystems.

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma's company, Yunfeng Financial Group, has made a significant investment in Ethereum, purchasing 10,000 ETH valued at $44 million. This move comes despite the ongoing ban on cryptocurrency trading in China, highlighting Yunfeng's strategic expansion into Web3, digital assets, and artificial intelligence [1].

The acquisition, funded entirely from internal cash reserves, reflects Yunfeng's long-term strategy to enhance its technological foundation and pioneer Web3 innovation. The company aims to leverage Ethereum as a building block for future financial ecosystems, with the acquired ETH being recorded as an investment asset on its balance sheet [1].

This investment places Yunfeng alongside a growing group of corporate and institutional entities treating Ethereum as a strategic reserve. As of the latest data, structured entities hold 4.44 million ETH, valued at around $19 billion, representing 3.67% of Ethereum’s total supply [1]. The largest single holder, Bitmine Immersion Tech, controls 1.8 million ETH, valued at approximately $7.7 billion, followed by SharpLink Gaming and The Ether Machine.

While the acquisition signals growing institutional confidence in Ethereum, analysts warn that concentrated holdings pose liquidity risks. Bitmine and SharpLink together account for over 58% of all structured Ethereum reserves, raising concerns about potential market volatility if these entities adjust their positions [1].

Yunfeng's move is symbolic of Hong Kong's ambition to position itself as a leading digital asset hub. The city's regulatory environment, including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s stablecoin licensing framework introduced in August 2025, is designed to foster innovation while ensuring compliance and investor protection [2]. Despite the strategic rationale for the investment, Yunfeng’s board has warned shareholders to monitor market and regulatory developments before further expansions.

The acquisition by Yunfeng underscores a broader trend of corporate crypto adoption across Asia. In Japan, several Tokyo-listed companies are integrating Bitcoin and altcoins into their balance sheets, reflecting a shift in corporate treasury management [1]. For example, beauty chain Convano has announced a $3 billion Bitcoin acquisition strategy, while gaming firm Gumi Inc. has added Bitcoin and XRP to its financial portfolio.

Yunfeng's investment in Ethereum, despite the regulatory challenges, highlights the company's commitment to technological innovation and its belief in the potential of blockchain technology as a foundation for future financial systems.

References:
[1] Jack Ma-Linked Yunfeng Buys 10000 ETH for $44M – Is This Hong Kong’s Big Ethereum Bet? (https://cryptonews.com/news/jack-ma-linked-yunfeng-buys-10000-eth-for-44m-is-this-hong-kongs-big-ethereum-bet/)
[2] Hong Kong Business School to Accept Tuition and Donations in Bitcoin and Other Digital Assets (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-business-school-accept-183312249.html)