Ethereum News Today: Regulation Fuels Ethereum's Rise as ETHZilla Builds $462M Treasury for Global Finance Bridge

Source: [1] ETHZilla CEO Predicts Ethereum as Future of Finance (https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethzilla-invests-ethereum-bridge-financial-worlds)

[2] ETHZilla Secures $350 Million in Post-IPO Financing on September 22, 2025 (https://www.gate.com/crypto-calendar/fundraising-information/103880)

[3] ETHZilla Plans to Raise $350M to Boost ETH Reserve (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/09/23/ethzilla-plans-to-raise-350m-to-boost-eth-reserve/)

[4] ETHZilla Ethereum Investment: $425M ETH Buy Announced (https://coinfomania.com/ethzilla-ethereum-investment-425m/)

[5] The GENIUS Act Will Allow Ethereum To Win Big, Experts Say (https://beincrypto.com/ethereum-advantage-amid-genius-act-stablecoin-economy/)

[6] Stablecoins, The Genius Act & Why Ethereum Wins (https://learn.swyftx.com/analysis/archive/stablecoins-the-genius-act-why-ethereum-wins/)

[7] GENIUS Act Fuels ETH Rally, Boosts Stablecoin and NFT Ecosystem (https://coincentral.com/genius-act-fuels-eth-rally-boosts-stablecoin-and-nft-ecosystem/)

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ETHZilla, the rebranded entity of former biotech firm 180 Life Sciences, has positioned itself as a major player in Ethereum's stablecoin ecosystem. The company, now holding over 102,000 ETH ($462 million), has emerged as the eighth-largest Ethereum treasury globally. CEO McAndrew Rudisill emphasized Ethereum's role as a "gateway for money supply globally to transmit in US dollars," citing its potential in the $1 trillion remittance market and real-world asset applications. ETHZilla's strategy includes deploying ETH into Layer 2 protocols to generate higher yields than traditional staking, with plans to tokenize real-world assets and expand its on-chain utility .

In September 2025, ETHZilla secured $350 million in post-IPO financing, bringing its total cumulative funding to $775 million. The firm also announced a $250 million share repurchase program and a ticker symbol change to "ETHZ" to reflect its Ethereum-focused positioning. Additionally, it plans to allocate $100 million worth of ETH to EtherFi for restaking operations, aiming to enhance earning capacity. Rudisill stated the company's goal is to "acquire as much Ether as possible" to bridge traditional finance and digital assets, leveraging Ethereum's infrastructure to drive expansion .

The CEO's bullish outlook aligns with Ethereum's growing dominance in stablecoin transactions. Data from DeFiLlama shows Ethereum processing $158 billion in stablecoin activity, surpassing Tron's $77 billion. Rudisill attributes this to Ethereum's institutional adoption and DeFi ecosystem, which he argues provide a "tight base load" for price growth. He predicts Ether could reach $20,000 in the next few years, fueled by stablecoin adoption and infrastructure scalability. The GENIUS Act, which mandates 1:1 stablecoin reserves and federal oversight, is seen as a catalyst for Ethereum's expansion, reinforcing its role as the primary settlement layer for digital dollars .

ETHZilla's pivot to Ethereum has driven its stock performance, with a 44% year-to-date gain. The company's treasury now includes nearly $500 million in interest-bearing securities, generating excess income while deploying ETH into high-yield protocols. Rudisill emphasized the firm's focus on long-term technology development rather than short-term financial maneuvers, stating, "Our rebrand reflects a clear strategy for growth and innovation." Meanwhile, institutional interest in Ethereum treasuries is rising, with firms like BitMine and ETHZilla competing to hold 5% of the token supply .

The competitive landscape for stablecoin transfers highlights Ethereum's edge over Tron. While Tron leads in low-cost, high-volume transactions, Ethereum's institutional backing and DeFi infrastructure have shifted momentum in its favor. Recent data shows Ethereum processing $23.7 billion in weekly USDT transfers, compared to Tron's $22 billion. Analysts attribute Ethereum's lead to its role in regulated stablecoin issuance and cross-chain DeFi activity. The GENIUS Act further solidifies this advantage by legitimizing stablecoin operations on Ethereum, attracting banks and fintech firms to build on its network .

As Ethereum's stablecoin ecosystem matures, ETHZilla's aggressive acquisition strategy underscores the asset's growing utility. The company's $425 million ETH buy, announced earlier in 2025, positioned it as the fifth-largest Ethereum treasury, surpassing competitors like BTCS. Rudisill's vision of Ethereum as a "store of value" and "global financial infrastructure" aligns with broader market trends, including record inflows into Ethereum ETFs and a 25% price surge post-GENIUS Act. With over 5.5 million ETH (4.54% of the supply) held by treasuries, the network's institutional adoption is expected to accelerate, cementing Ethereum's role in the digital finance transition .

ETHZilla's strategic moves reflect a broader industry shift toward Ethereum-based stablecoin solutions. As regulatory clarity and institutional demand converge, the network's dominance in stablecoin settlements and DeFi protocols positions it to capture a significant share of the expanding digital asset market. Rudisill's assertion that "the horse has left the barn" for Ethereum encapsulates the irreversible momentum driving its adoption, with ETHZilla serving as a key player in bridging traditional and decentralized finance.