Ethereum News Today: Yunfeng Vaults Into Web3 Era with $44M Ethereum Stake

Yunfeng Financial Group, a Hong Kong-listed financial services firm with close ties to Alibaba founder Jack Ma, has made a significant move into the cryptocurrency market by acquiring 10,000 ether (ETH) for approximately $44 million. The purchase, disclosed in a voluntary filing on September 2, 2025, was funded entirely from the company’s internal cash reserves. Yunfeng stated that the acquisition aligns with its strategic expansion into Web3, real-world assets (RWA), digital currencies, and artificial intelligence (AI). The company emphasized that the ETH would be classified as an investment asset on its balance sheet and serve as part of its reserve assets [2].

The rationale for the acquisition centers on ETH’s role in supporting RWA tokenization and technological innovation, as well as enhancing the integration of financial services with emerging Web3 infrastructure. The company highlighted Ethereum’s potential to diversify its asset base and reduce reliance on traditional fiat currencies. Additionally, Yunfeng expressed interest in exploring Ethereum's application in insurance operations and new business scenarios within decentralized finance (DeFi). The move positions Yunfeng among a growing number of institutional investors viewing ETH as a strategic reserve asset [1].

The acquisition places Yunfeng in a broader trend of corporate entities accumulating Ethereum. According to data from Strategic ETH Reserve, corporate Ethereum reserves have reached approximately 4.44 million ETH, valued at around $19 billion—representing 3.67% of Ethereum’s total supply. The largest single holder is BitMine Immersion Technologies, which controls 1.8 million ETH valued at roughly $7.7 billion. Other major entities include SharpLink Gaming with 797,700 ETH ($3.4 billion), The Ether Machine with 345,400 ETH ($1.5 billion), and the Ethereum Foundation with 231,600 ETH ($1 billion). Yunfeng's entry into this space signals increased institutional confidence in Ethereum as a long-term asset [2].

Yunfeng also acknowledged the inherent volatility of cryptocurrency markets and emphasized that it will continue to monitor developments and regulatory changes before expanding its ETH holdings further. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange and local securities regulator distanced themselves from the filing, noting they take no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. This underscores the cautious regulatory environment surrounding corporate cryptocurrency holdings in the region [2].

Analysts have noted that while sustained redemptions could temporarily weigh on prices, the long-term accumulation of ETH by firms like Yunfeng reflects growing confidence in Ethereum as an institutional-grade asset. The company’s decision to allocate a portion of its reserves to ETH is consistent with a broader industry shift toward treating digital assets as part of a diversified portfolio. Yunfeng’s move also highlights the increasing convergence between traditional finance and Web3 infrastructure, particularly in areas such as tokenization and decentralized applications [2].

Source: [1] Jack Ma-linked Yunfeng Financial acquires $44M of ETH (https://cointelegraph.com/news/yunfeng-financial-10000-eth-web3-expansion) [2] Jack Ma-Linked Yunfeng Buys 10000 ETH for $44M (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jack-ma-linked-yunfeng-buys-172820741.html) [3] Jack Ma-Linked Yunfeng Financial (0376) Buys $44M of ETH (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/02/jack-ma-linked-yunfeng-financial-to-build-ether-treasury-starting-with-usd44m-eth-purchase)