Ethereum Trust Investment Vehicle Launched by Li Lin

Li Lin, the founder of the Huobi cryptocurrency exchange and current chairman of Avenir Capital, is set to launch a $1 billion Ethereum trust investment vehicle in partnership with leading Asian crypto investors. The initiative aims to provide institutional investors with regulated access to Ethereum and related digital assets, in response to increasing demand following the popularity of Bitcoin ETFs.

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Background and Team

The new Ethereum trust is expected to focus mainly on the acquisition of Ethereum (ETH), offering accredited investors an opportunity to gain exposure to the asset class via a formal financial product. Li Lin is joined in this venture by notable figures from the Chinese crypto sector, including Shen Bo of Fenbushi Capital, Xiao Feng of HashKey Group, and Meitu founder Cai Wensheng. The project reportedly plans to acquire a Nasdaq-listed shell company as part of the fund’s structure, according to CryptoNews.

Li Lin’s Avenir Capital will contribute $200 million to the trust, while approximately $500 million has been secured from Asian institutional investors such as HongShan Capital Group. The overall funding goal for the Ethereum trust investment vehicle remains at $1 billion. Details are still under discussion and may evolve before the official launch.

Institutional Demand and Market Context

The establishment of the Ethereum trust comes amid growing institutional interest in digital assets, particularly after the surge in Bitcoin ETF inflows in the United States. By offering a regulated Ethereum trust investment vehicle, Li Lin and his partners aim to address the needs of professional investors seeking secure and compliant access to Ethereum and related assets.

Li Lin previously sold Huobi in the wake of China’s 2021 crypto trading ban and then established Avenir Capital in Hong Kong. Avenir has since become one of Asia’s largest Bitcoin ETF investors, managing over $1 billion in assets.

Shen Bo, Xiao Feng, and Cai Wensheng, known for their early support of Ethereum, have been instrumental in directing Chinese crypto capital into offshore and regulated structures as regional regulations have tightened.

What’s Next for the Ethereum Trust

A formal announcement about the Ethereum trust investment vehicle is anticipated within the next two to three weeks, as final details are ironed out. With backing from high-profile investors and large-scale fundraising, the project could significantly impact institutional adoption of Ethereum in Asia and beyond.

This initiative highlights a shift among established crypto leaders toward creating accessible, regulated solutions for institutional digital asset investment.

For further updates and coverage on digital asset investment vehicles, visit the Cryptocurrency section of Vizi.