The digital asset industry is witnessing another strategic pivot as ETHZilla officially steps away from its Ethereum-focused treasury model to embrace real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. The company’s transition underscores a broader industry shift toward blockchain-powered financial instruments backed by tangible assets rather than purely crypto-native holdings.
ETHZilla Pivots From Ethereum Treasury to RWA Tokenization
In a recent press release, Ethereum treasury ETHZilla announced plans to rebrand as Forum Markets. Interestingly, the firm revealed that this initiative stems from its strategic shift from cryptocurrency operations to real-world asset tokenization. The Ethereum treasury strategy, which officially launched in August 2025, has significant exposure to Ethereum and leverages the ecosystem’s decentralized finance infrastructure.
However, earlier this month, the firm solidified its stance on RWA tokenization with the purchase of a $4.7 million portfolio comprising 95 manufactured and modular home loans. The firm intends to tokenize these loans on a Layer-2 network built on the Ethereum blockchain, a move expected to generate an annual yield exceeding 10%.
Meanwhile, the company is expanding beyond housing finance. ETHZilla had revealed in January that it had acquired two CFM56-7B24 aircraft engines, which it plans to tokenize through Liquidity.io, an SEC-regulated alternative trading platform. The dual-asset strategy signals Forum Markets’ intention to blend blockchain infrastructure with income-generating industrial and credit assets.
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Why RWA Tokenization Is Gaining Momentum
Real-world asset tokenization has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments within digital finance. The model allows ownership rights in tangible assets such as loans, aircraft components, commodities, and real estate to be represented as blockchain-based tokens. This enables fractional ownership, enhanced liquidity, and streamlined settlement processes.
Institutional players are increasingly exploring tokenization to modernize capital markets infrastructure. Notably, Stani Kulechov, CEO of the lending protocol Aave, recently speculated that the RWA sector could grow into a $50 trillion market valuation by 2050. Such projections highlight the scale of opportunity many industry leaders see in bringing traditional financial instruments on-chain.
Compared to traditional crypto treasury strategies, RWAs provide predictable cash flows and asset-backed security, making them attractive to yield-focused investors. Forum Markets appears to be positioning itself early within this expanding sector, seeking to capture value as regulatory clarity improves and institutional participation grows.
Institutional Pullback From Ethereum Markets
ETHZilla’s strategic pivot shows one more institutional player pulling back from the Ethereum markets. The rebrand follows a series of notable ETH divestments over recent months.
In October 2025, the firm sold 40 million Ether to fund a $250 million stock repurchase plan. By December, it further offloaded 24,291 ETH worth $74.5 million to redeem outstanding senior secured convertible notes. These moves signaled a deliberate reduction in direct crypto exposure even before the official RWA transition was announced.
Importantly, ETHZilla’s actions were not isolated. ETH treasury FG Nexus has also been trimming its ETH holdings, recently selling 7,550 ETH worth $14.06 million. These developments suggest a broader recalibration among Ethereum-focused treasury firms as they seek alternative strategies centered on yield-generating real-world assets rather than volatile digital holdings.
Ethereum Treasury Firm FG Nexus Offloads 7,550 ETH, Deepens Exit After Failed Accumulation Bet
Evans Kelvin
The CoinRemark Team
