ETHZilla Buys Jet Engines for $12.2M, Expands Tokenization Pipeline

Ethereum treasury firm ETHZilla has acquired two aircraft engines for $12.2 million, according to a January 23, 2026 SEC filing. The purchase, made via a new subsidiary, marks a significant move into physical asset leasing as part of its strategy to tokenize real-world assets. The CFM56-7B24 engines are leased to a major airline, managed by Aero Engine Solutions. The filing includes a buy-sell option allowing either party to transact the engines for $3 million each upon lease expiration. ETHZilla has been divesting its ETH holdings, selling $114.5 million worth since October 2026 to fund buybacks and debt redemption while its stock has fallen roughly 97% from its August 2025 peak. The firm outlined plans in a December 2025 shareholder letter to tokenize assets via partnerships, aiming to list its first tokenized offerings in Q1 2026. The aircraft engine leasing market is projected to grow from $11.17 billion in 2025 to $15.56 billion by 2031.