Li Lin’s Avenir Capital partners with major investors to back large-scale ETH accumulation through a Nasdaq-listed entity.
Li Lin Leads $1B Ether Investment Initiative
Li Lin, founder of Huobi Exchange and current chair of Avenir Capital, has reportedly raised $1 billion to establish a large-scale Ether (ETH) trust, signaling growing institutional confidence in the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency.
According to a Bloomberg report, Li has joined forces with Fenbushi Capital co-founder Shen Bo, HashKey Group CEO Xiao Feng, and Meitu founder Cai Wensheng to launch an Ether accumulation strategy via a Nasdaq-listed shell company. The funding round included $500 million from HongShan Capital Group and $200 million from Avenir Capital, alongside additional backing from high-profile Ethereum supporters.
The group is expected to formally announce the Ether trust within two to three weeks, marking one of the largest private initiatives yet aimed at institutional ETH accumulation.
Strategic Move Amid Ethereum Market Growth
At the time of reporting, Ether traded at around $3,857, up over 9% in the past week, according to Nansen data. The planned trust could accelerate ETH adoption among institutional investors, especially as interest in blockchain infrastructure and staking yields continues to grow.
Li Lin, who founded Huobi in 2013, sold the exchange to crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun in later years — a move followed by legal disputes and brand disagreements. His new focus through Avenir Capital underscores a shift toward regulated and long-term blockchain investment vehicles.
Avenir Expands Beyond Bitcoin
Avenir Capital has already shown strong interest in digital assets. The firm reported holding 16.5 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as of August, making it a significant institutional Bitcoin holder.
The company also participated in a $500 million Solana treasury fund launched in September, highlighting its broader strategy to diversify across major blockchain ecosystems.
With this $1 billion Ether trust, Li Lin’s consortium aims to position Ethereum at the center of the next institutional investment wave. The move reflects rising global demand for tokenized and yield-generating assets, and could mark a turning point for Ether’s mainstream financial adoption.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.