180 Life Sciences Closes $425 Million Private Placement to Advance its Ethereum Treasury Strategy

Core Insights - The company has successfully closed a private placement, raising $425 million in gross proceeds to enhance its Ethereum (ETH) holdings and execute a differentiated yield generation program [1][2][4] - The company has launched an ETH treasury strategy, allocating proceeds for ETH purchases, transaction expenses, management bonuses, and supporting its legacy iGaming operations [2][8] - The company aims to become a benchmark for on-chain treasury management among public companies by integrating its ETH treasury strategy [12][13] Financing and Investment Strategy - The private placement was led by Electric Capital and Harbour Island, with participation from various institutional and crypto-native investors [3][4] - The company plans to sell up to $150 million in fixed income securities following the PIPE transaction, subject to definitive documentation [5] - Electric Capital will act as the external asset manager, implementing a yield generation program designed to outperform traditional ETH staking [6][13] Governance and Leadership - McAndrew Rudisill has been appointed as Chairman of the Board, with Crystal Heter and Andrew Suckling joining as Independent Directors [2][15] - The incoming board members bring extensive experience in crypto, decentralized finance, and capital markets, positioning the company as a leading Ethereum treasury corporation [15] Operational Focus - The company intends to maintain its legacy operations in biotech and iGaming while focusing on becoming an ETH accumulation vehicle [11][13] - A DeFi Council, consisting of leading DeFi builders, will provide input on treasury management to generate outsized yield and benefit the Ethereum ecosystem [9][13] - The company plans to provide regular updates on its Ethereum holdings to ensure transparency for investors [4]