ETHZilla Sells Off Ethereum to Launch Jet Engine! $12.2M Transition to RWA Tokenization

Crypto asset management firm ETHZilla launches Eurus Aero Token I, supported by two leased commercial jet engines to a leading U.S. airline. Each token is priced at $100, with a minimum purchase of 10 tokens, aiming to hold until 2028. ETHZilla purchased these two engines in January for $12.2 million, funded by selling part of its ETH reserves.

From Holding ETH to Buying Engines: ETHZilla’s Strategic Shift

Crypto asset management company ETHZilla has introduced a token offering that allows users to gain equity in jet engines the company acquired last month, marking part of its transition into tokenized assets. ETHZilla announced Thursday that the Eurus Aero Token I will be launched through its new subsidiary ETHZilla Aerospace, backed by two commercial jet engines leased to “a leading American airline.”

The company priced each token at $100, with a minimum purchase of 10 tokens (i.e., a minimum investment of $1,000). ETHZilla states its goal is to achieve an 11% return by holding the tokens until the lease term expires in 2028. This yield is highly attractive in the current financial environment. With the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield around 4.2% and the S&P 500 dividend yield about 1.5%, an 11% annualized return significantly outperforms traditional safe assets.

ETHZilla Chairman and CEO McAndrew Rudisill said the plan “broadens investment channels and modernizes asset ownership in markets previously accessible only to institutional credit and private equity.” He added, “Tokens supporting engines leased to one of the largest and most profitable airlines in the U.S. demonstrate a powerful use case for applying blockchain infrastructure to aviation assets with contractual cash flows and global investment demand.”

Aircraft engine leasing is an extremely stable cash flow asset. Commercial jet engines cost from a few million to tens of millions of dollars, and airlines typically lease rather than buy to reduce capital expenditure. Lease agreements usually last 5-10 years, with monthly rent payments and very low default rates (since airlines that fail to pay rent lose the engine and cannot operate). This predictable cash flow makes engine leasing an attractive alternative asset for institutional investors.

However, the entry barrier for aircraft engine leasing is very high. A single engine can cost several million dollars, plus maintenance, insurance, and management costs, making it inaccessible to ordinary investors. Tokenization breaks down these large assets into small $100 shares, enabling anyone to participate. This “asset democratization” is a core value proposition of RWA tokenization.

Investment Logic of Eurus Aero Token I

Underlying Asset: Two commercial jet engines leased to a leading U.S. airline

Lease Term: Expiring in 2028, approximately 2 years remaining

Expected Return: 11% annualized if held to maturity, from lease income

Token Price: $100 per token, minimum investment of $1,000 (10 tokens)

From a risk perspective, this investment is not without risks. Airlines could go bankrupt or default (though low probability, not impossible), engines could suffer technical failures requiring costly repairs, and token liquidity could be poor (secondary markets may not exist or have large spreads). Additionally, credit risk of ETHZilla as issuer must be considered; if ETHZilla mismanages, it may fail to fulfill rental income obligations.

Rudisill stated in December that ETHZilla is moving away from a pure ETH holding model toward building a business that brings assets onto the chain via tokenization. Last year, the crypto asset management sector experienced significant growth and hype, but market enthusiasm has cooled since. ETHZilla sold part of its ETH reserves last year and purchased these engines in January for a total of $12.2 million.

$12.2 Million Engine Deal and ETH Holdings Reduction

In January, ETHZilla bought these two engines for a total of $12.2 million, funded by selling part of its ETH reserves. In September, ETHZilla disclosed to the SEC that it held 102,246 ETH, with an average purchase price of about $3,948, and a valuation of $443 million at that time. This indicates a very high cost basis for its ETH holdings, with Ethereum trading around $1,928 now, far below the average cost, resulting in significant unrealized losses.

According to CoinGecko, ETH’s price fluctuates with the broader crypto market, hovering between $1,872 and $2,130 over the past week. The Strategic Ether Reserves website shows ETHZilla holds over 93,000 ETH, worth more than $188 million. However, CoinGecko estimates the company’s ETH holdings closer to 69,802 ETH, valued at about $136 million.

This discrepancy may stem from different data sources or timing. Regardless, both figures are well below the 102,246 ETH disclosed in September. This suggests ETHZilla has sold at least 9,000 to 32,000 ETH in recent months. At current prices, selling 9,000 ETH would net about $17.3 million; 32,000 ETH would net about $61.7 million. The $12.2 million spent on engines is only a portion of the ETH sales proceeds.

Financially, ETHZilla bought ETH at an average cost of $3,948, but at roughly $1,928 now, it faces a loss of about $2,020 per ETH. If ETHZilla sold 20,000 ETH (a median estimate), realized losses would be approximately $40.4 million. Such heavy losses likely motivate its shift toward RWA tokenization: simply holding ETH has proven to be a failed strategy, necessitating new business models.

Strategically, ETHZilla’s transition reflects the broader challenges faced by crypto asset managers. Success stories like MicroStrategy and Tesla, which gained huge returns from Bitcoin holdings, initially inspired many companies. But when the crypto market entered a bear phase, the risks of single-asset strategies became evident. ETHZilla’s high-cost ETH purchases and forced sales for transformation exemplify a classic “buy high, sell low” failure.

Mortgage and Auto Loan Engines: ETHZilla’s RWA Product Line

According to its announcement, as part of its ongoing tokenization efforts, ETHZilla plans to launch tokens representing other asset classes, including mortgages and auto loans. This diversification of RWA products demonstrates ETHZilla’s commitment to transformation. Jet engines are just the first step; mortgages and auto loans will cover broader asset categories and investor bases.

Mortgage tokenization is similar in concept to engine leasing—dividing stable cash-flow assets into small tokens. However, mortgage legal complexities are much higher, involving property rights, registration, bankruptcy priorities, and more. Tokenizing mortgages requires ensuring token holders’ legal rights in case of borrower default, which is technically and legally challenging.

Auto loan tokenization is comparatively simpler, as vehicles are movable property with more straightforward ownership transfer. Car loans typically last 3-7 years, with yields around 5-15% depending on borrower credit. Tokenized auto loans could offer returns similar to P2P lending, with blockchain providing transparency and reducing intermediaries.

Some crypto executives predict that, driven by emerging economies facing capital formation and attracting foreign investment challenges, tokenized RWA will grow significantly by 2026. Data from RWA.xyz shows that as of Friday, on-chain RWA assets are estimated to exceed $24 billion, held by over 846,808 addresses. This growth trend provides a favorable environment for ETHZilla’s transition.

In terms of competition, ETHZilla faces many players in the RWA tokenization space. Platforms like Ondo Finance, Centrifuge, and Goldfinch have been operating for years, accumulating technical and compliance expertise. Traditional financial giants like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have also launched tokenized fund products. As a latecomer, ETHZilla needs to differentiate through product design, yields, or user experience to survive fierce competition.

For investors, the appeal of Eurus Aero Token I depends on risk-adjusted returns. An 11% nominal yield sounds attractive, but must be weighed against risks: airline default, engine depreciation (technological obsolescence), ETHZilla’s operational risk, and liquidity risk (holding until 2028 with potential difficulty selling at a fair price). Overall, the actual risk-adjusted return may be well below 11%.

Cautious investors should request more details from ETHZilla: which airline is leasing the engines? What are the engine brands and models? Lease terms? And what are the contingency plans if the airline defaults? Only after satisfactory answers should investment be considered.