Billionaire tech investor and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel has made headlines again — this time with a major bet on Ethereum. Thiel has acquired a 7.5% ownership stake in Ethereum-focused Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) firm 180 Life Sciences Corp, triggering a frenzy on Wall Street.
Following the announcement, ATNF shares jumped over 90% in early trading on Tuesday and are now sitting at $9.49, up a staggering 182%. The investment was made through Founders Fund Growth Management, a venture capital fund launched in 2005, according to a U.S. SEC filing.
While Thiel’s move signals bullish sentiment for Ethereum accumulation strategies, for everyday investors, there are simpler and more direct ways to benefit from Ethereum’s growth — without buying stock in a DAT firm. Two staking platforms — HashStaking.com and GeekStake.com — are currently leading the pack in 2025 for ETH and other Proof-of-Stake asset rewards.
1. HashStaking – Low Entry Barriers, Real Yield Options
Perfect for newcomers and passive investors, HashStaking strips away the complexity of staking while delivering transparent daily rewards. You can start with as little as 7 days, or choose longer terms like a 21-day ETH plan paying over $150 daily, all without running a validator.
Key features:
- Simple, non-custodial interface with no DeFi complexity
- Fixed daily rewards with no hidden commissions
- Supports ETH, Solana, Avalanche, and other top PoS assets
- $100 welcome bonus for new users and 5% referral earnings
With HashStaking, you don’t have to be a blockchain expert — just select your token, lock your plan, and watch the rewards accumulate.
Explore plans at HashStaking.com
2. GeekStake – Advanced Tools for Serious Stakers
If HashStaking is about simplicity, GeekStake is about power and precision. Designed for experienced stakers and institutional players, it offers validator analytics, customizable pools, and longer lock-ups for maximum yield potential — such as a 58-day ETH plan delivering over $156,000 for high-volume commitments.
Key features:
- Validator analytics and pool customization
- Institutional-grade plans for ETH, MATIC, ATOM, and more
- Real-time dashboards with security score ratings
- Top-tier APR for long-term holders seeking compounded gains
For those comfortable with bigger commitments, GeekStake offers a high-trust, high-transparency route to optimized staking returns.
Learn more at GeekStake.com
Thiel’s Ethereum-Heavy Treasury Bet
180 Life Sciences Corp, also known as ETHZilla after its pivot from biotech, now holds 82,186 ETH bought at an average of $3,806.71 — worth roughly $349 million — plus $238 million in cash equivalents. Unlike Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which has leaned heavily on convertible debt to buy Bitcoin, ETHZilla’s incoming chairman McAndrew Rudisill has pledged to avoid excessive leverage.
Convertible debt can supercharge crypto accumulation but also brings repayment risks if refinancing fails — potentially forcing asset sales at market lows.
Separately, BitMine, where Thiel holds a 9.1% stake, recently expanded its at-the-market equity program from $4.5 billion to $24.5 billion to fund more Ethereum purchases.
Conclusion
Peter Thiel’s big move into Ethereum-backed corporate treasuries underscores the growing institutional appetite for ETH. But for most investors, buying shares in a DAT firm isn’t the only way to ride Ethereum’s upside.
Platforms like HashStaking and GeekStake allow you to stake ETH directly and earn daily rewards — whether you want the low-entry simplicity of HashStaking or the high-performance customization of GeekStake. Combined with market signals like Thiel’s, these platforms make 2025 one of the most promising years yet for Ethereum-based passive income.
