A major new institutional push into Ethereum is underway in Asia. Li Lin, founder of Huobi and chairman of Avenir Capital, is reportedly leading the creation of a $1 billion Ethereum trust backed by some of the region’s most prominent early crypto investors, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
The initiative aims to establish a long-term institutional vehicle for accumulating and holding Ether (ETH), mirroring the growing global appetite for professionally managed crypto exposure. Li has joined forces with Fenbushi Capital’s Shen Bo, HashKey Group CEO Xiao Feng, and Meitu founder Cai Wensheng, all recognized pioneers from Asia’s first wave of blockchain investment.
The consortium has already raised close to $1 billion in commitments, including approximately $200 million from Li’s Avenir Capital and another $500 million from regional institutional investors such as HongShan Capital Group. Talks are also reportedly underway to acquire a Nasdaq-listed company that could serve as the structural base for the trust, paving the way for a compliant and globally accessible investment product.
A formal launch announcement is expected within weeks, as final details around governance and regulatory structuring are finalized.
This move follows a surge in institutional demand for Ethereum exposure, especially after the strong performance of U.S. Bitcoin ETFs in 2025. Asset managers across Asia are increasingly exploring Ether-based vehicles to meet client demand for diversified crypto exposure.
If successful, the new trust could become one of the largest Ether-focused institutional products outside the U.S., marking a significant milestone for Asia’s digital asset landscape, and further reinforcing Ethereum’s status as the dominant platform for smart contracts, tokenization, and decentralized finance.
