Investment Company Considerations
The Trust is an investment company for U.S. GAAP purposes and follows accounting and reporting guidance in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies. The Trust uses fair value as its method of accounting for Ether in accordance with its classification as an investment company for accounting purposes. The Trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act. U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and these differences could be material.
Review of Financial Results (unaudited)
Financial Highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
(All amounts in the following table and the subsequent paragraphs, except Share, per Share, Ether and price of Ether amounts, are in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment in Ether(1) |
|
$ |
1,867,260 |
|
|
$ |
(1,777,449 |
) |
|
$ |
672,234 |
|
|
$ |
1,595,216 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
|
$ |
1,840,062 |
|
|
$ |
(1,815,452 |
) |
|
$ |
607,590 |
|
|
$ |
1,442,280 |
|
Net assets(2) |
|
$ |
4,425,198 |
|
|
$ |
4,329,796 |
|
|
$ |
4,425,198 |
|
|
$ |
4,329,796 |
|
(1)Includes the impact of the Initial Distribution of 292,262.98913350 Ether, with a value of approximately $1,010.9 million to Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF, completed on July 23, 2024, as discussed in Note 4 of the notes to the unaudited financial statements.
(2)Net assets in the above table and subsequent paragraphs are calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP based on the Digital Asset Market price of Ether on the Digital Asset Trading Platform that the Trust considered its principal market, as of 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the valuation date.
Net realized and unrealized gain on investment in Ether for the three months ended September 30, 2025 was $1,867,260, which includes a realized gain of $22,479 on the transfer of Ether to pay the Sponsor’s Fee, a realized gain of $530,177 on the sale of Ether to meet redemptions, and net change in unrealized appreciation on investment in Ether of $1,314,604. Net realized and unrealized gain on investment in Ether for the period was driven by Ether price appreciation from $2,516.23 per Ether as of June 30, 2025, to $4,161.61 per Ether as of September 30, 2025. Net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $1,840,062 for the three months ended September 30, 2025, which consisted of the net realized and unrealized gain on investment in Ether, less the Sponsor’s Fee of $27,198. Net assets increased to $4,425,198 at September 30, 2025, a 56% increase for the three-month period. The increase in net assets resulted from the aforementioned Ether price appreciation and the contribution of approximately 96,595 Ether with a value of $381,050 to the Trust in connection with Share creations during the period, partially offset by the withdrawal of approximately 6,951 Ether to pay the foregoing Sponsor’s Fee and the redemption of approximately 153,760 Ether with a value of $632,847 from the Trust.
Net realized and unrealized loss on investment in Ether for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was ($1,777,449), which includes a realized gain of $32,416 on the transfer of Ether to pay the Sponsor’s Fee, a realized gain of $2,459,785 on the sale of Ether to meet redemptions, a realized gain of $888,140 on the sale of Ether related to the Initial Distribution to Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF, and net change in unrealized appreciation on investment in Ether of ($5,157,790). Net realized and unrealized loss on investment in Ether for the period was driven by Ether price depreciation from $3,423.00 per Ether as of June 30, 2024, to $2,594.43 per Ether as of September 30, 2024. Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations was ($1,815,452) for the three months ended September 30, 2024, which consisted of the net realized and unrealized loss on investment in Ether, plus the Sponsor’s Fee of $38,003. Net assets decreased to $4,329,796 at September 30, 2024, a 57% decrease for the three-month period. The decrease in net assets resulted from the aforementioned Ether price depreciation, the withdrawal of approximately 13,267 Ether to pay the foregoing Sponsor’s Fee, the redemption of approximately 951,615 Ether, with a value of $2,859,603 from the Trust, and the Initial Distribution of approximately 292,263 Ether, with a value of $1,010,935 from the Trust, to Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF.