Justin Sun Deposits $480M of ETH to Restaking Protocol Ether.Fi

Ether.Fi is nearing $3 billion in total value locked.

AccessTimeIconMar 14, 2024 at 3:52 p.m. UTC
Updated Mar 14, 2024 at 3:53 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now
  • The 120,000 ether deposited was acquired in February, when ETH was worth around $2,800.
  • Ether.Fi is nearing $3 billion in TVL ahead of its governance token release later this month.
  • Meme Coins Rub a Lot of People 'the Wrong Way': Fundstrat Strategist
    00:57
    Meme Coins Rub a Lot of People 'the Wrong Way': Fundstrat Strategist
  • Why Crypto Investors Should Watch for US Treasury's Refunding Announcement
    17:51
    Why Crypto Investors Should Watch for US Treasury's Refunding Announcement
  • Bitcoin's Dominance Rate Signals Upside
    01:04
    Bitcoin's Dominance Rate Signals Upside
  • Hong Kong Bitcoin and Ether ETFs Have Soft Debut; What Indonesia’s Election Means for Crypto
    01:53
    Hong Kong Bitcoin and Ether ETFs Have Soft Debut; What Indonesia’s Election Means for Crypto
  • A wallet tagged as belonging to Tron founder Justin Sun deposited 120,000 ether (ETH) worth $480 million to liquid restaking protocol Ether.Fi, according to blockchain data.

    The protocol, which raised $23 million last month ahead of announcing the release of its native token, is now nearing $3 billion in total value locked, DefiLlama data show. Ether.Fi also recently announced a $600 million deal with the Omni Network to help secure the protocol and the EigenLayer ecosystem as a whole. EigenLayer is a decentralized restaking protocol on the Ethereum blockchain.

    The wallet began withdrawing ether from Binance in February, when prices were around $2,800. They have since risen to about $3,900, according to CoinDesk data.

    Liquid restaking involves staking ether, which helps secure Ethereum, in return for a yield and often also loyalty points that can eventually be converted into a token airdrop. In return for the staked ether, restaking protocols like Ether.Fi distribute a liquid restaking token, in this case eETH, which is pegged to ether's price. The token can be used on other decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to earn additional yield.

    Sun is an active participant in the DeFi sector. Last year he helped avert a liquidity crisis on Curve Finance by purchasing $2.3 million worth of CRV tokens in light of a bad debt situation tied to Curve founder Michael Egorov.

    Justin Sun did not immediately respond to CoinDesk's request for comment.

    Edited by Sheldon Reback.

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Oliver Knight

    Oliver Knight is a CoinDesk reporter based between London and Lisbon. He does not own any crypto.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.