SharpLink Gaming (Nasdaq: SBET) has landed a $425 million private investment in a public equity deal, with blockchain leader Consensys Software Inc. leading the charge in a major move for the sports betting and iGaming company. Shares of SharpLink Gaming skyrocketed by 468% following the announcement on May 27.
As part of this latest move, the company said it plans to adopt Ethereum as its primary treasury reserve asset, marking a landmark moment for crypto’s integration into the balance sheets of public companies.
The PIPE agreement includes the purchase of over 69 million shares of common stock at $6.15 per share (or $6.72 for certain management participants), and is expected to close around May 29, 2025, pending customary closing conditions.
The capital raise also featured participation from prominent crypto venture firms and ecosystem leaders, including ParaFi Capital, Electric Capital, Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, and others.
Joseph Lubin to Join Board as Chairman
As part of the deal, Joseph Lubin, Founder and CEO of Consensys and Co-Founder of Ethereum, will become Chairman of SharpLink’s Board of Directors upon closing.
The collaboration reflects Consensys’ growing push to bring Ethereum deeper into corporate finance strategies, leveraging its ecosystem expertise in decentralized finance, identity, and infrastructure.
“This is a significant milestone in SharpLink’s journey and marks an expansion beyond our core business,” said Rob Phythian, Founder and CEO of SharpLink. “On closing, we look forward to working with Consensys and welcoming Joseph to the Board.”
“This is an exciting time for the Ethereum community. I am delighted to work with Rob and the team to bring the Ethereum opportunity to public markets,” said Lubin.
ETH Becomes Treasury Reserve Asset
Proceeds from the offering will be used to acquire ETH as a long-term treasury reserve, pending general corporate and working capital needs.
This makes SharpLink one of the first U.S.-listed companies in the iGaming and sports betting space to commit to Ethereum as a reserve strategy, potentially indicating a broader adoption trend among digital-native companies. A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners acted as the sole placement agent for the deal.
The securities are being issued via private placement under exemptions from SEC registration and are subject to resale restrictions, with a registration rights agreement in place for future compliance.
SEC Drops Lawsuit Against Consensys
In February, the SEC agreed to end its lawsuit against crypto company Consensys as the federal regulator halted its regulation-by-enforcement approach to digital assets, according to Consensys co-founder Joseph Lubin.
In an X post published on the afternoon of February 27, Lubin announced that the SEC and his blockchain software firm agreed “in principle” to formally halt the litigation, with the regulator set to file a stipulation in court that will “effectively close the case.”
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