Peter Thiel exits ETHZilla, shifts focus to tokenized aerospace

Peter Thiel and Founders Fund have sold all ETHZilla shares amid financial struggles and a pivot to tokenized aerospace projects.

Peter Thiel and his Founders Fund have fully exited their position in ETHZilla, an Ethereum-focused treasury firm, according to recent SEC filings. Thiel originally acquired a 7.5% stake in ETHZilla—formerly 180 Life Sciences—in August 2025, but by December 31, 2025, all shares had been sold. This divestment comes after ETHZilla faced significant financial headwinds, including negative operating margins, high bankruptcy risk, and a 28% drop in stock value since the start of the year. The company, which shifted from biotechnology to Ethereum treasury management in 2024, recently launched ETHZilla Aerospace to offer tokenized equity in leased jet engines. Thiel’s exit signals a strategic shift, with increased focus on tokenized applications in the aerospace sector, particularly via the $ETHZ token. The move underscores evolving investor sentiment toward Ethereum-based treasury firms and highlights the volatility in the digital asset sector.