# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0002000046
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-071486
**Filing Date:** 2026-2
**Character Count:** 485204
**Document Hash:** 7a620c4c50fccd326d9c95d43b0c5597
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-071486.hdr.sgml**: 20260225

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-071486

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 10-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 48

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251231

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260225

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260225

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Fidelity Ethereum Fund
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0002000046
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** FINANCE SERVICES [6199]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 09 Crypto Assets
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 10-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-42163
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26678382

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 245 SUMMER STREET
- **STREET 2:** V13E
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02210
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 800-343-3548

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 245 SUMMER STREET
- **STREET 2:** V13E
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02210

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 10-K

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

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**FORM** 10-K

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 **(Mark One)** 

☒ **ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934** 

**For the fiscal year ended** **December 31,** 2025

**OR** 

☐ **TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________________ TO ____________________**

**Commission File Number** 001-42163

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**Fidelity**<sup>®</sup> **Ethereum Fund**

**(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Delaware | 99-6342530 |
| **(State or other jurisdiction of**<br>**incorporation or organization)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br>**Identification No.)** |
| 245 Summer Street V13E<br>Boston**,** MA | 02210 |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (**800**)** 343-3548

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading**<br>**Symbol(s)** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Fidelity<sup>®</sup> Ethereum Fund Shares | FETH | Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. |

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ |
|  |  | Emerging growth company | ☐ |

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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the registrant's shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2025 was $1,253,466,000

Number of Shares outstanding as of February 20, 2026: 65,700,000

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None

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**Table of Contents**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  | **Page** |
| **PART I** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1. | [Business](#item1_business) | 3 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1A. | [Risk Factors](#item1a_risk_factors) | 26 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1B. | [Unresolved Staff Comments](#item1b_unresolved_staff_comments) | 65 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 1C. | [Cybersecurity](#item1c_cybersecurity) | 65 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 2. | [Properties](#item2_properties) | 67 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 3. | [Legal Proceedings](#item3_legal_proceedings) | 67 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 4. | [Mine Safety Disclosures](#item4_mine_safety_procedures) | 67 |
| **PART II** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 5. | [Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities](#item5_market_for_registrants) | 68 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 6. | [\[Reserved\]](#item6_reserved) | 68 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 7. | [Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations](#item7_managements_discussion) | 69 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 7A. | [Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk](#item7a_quantitative_and_qualitative) | 74 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 8. | [Financial Statements and Supplementary Data](#item8_financial_statements) | 75 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9. | [Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure](#item9_changes_in_and_disagreements) | 89 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9A. | [Controls and Procedures](#item9a_controls_and_procedures) | 89 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9B. | [Other Information](#item9b_other_information) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;89 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 9C. | [Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections](#item9c_disclosure_regarding_foreign) | 89 |
| **PART III** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 10. | [Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance](#item10_directors_executives_officers) | 90 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 11. | [Executive Compensation](#item11_executive_compensation) | 91 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 12. | [Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters](#item12_security_ownership) | 91 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 13. | [Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence](#item13_certain_relationships) | 91 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 14. | [Principal Accounting Fees and Services](#item14_principal_accounting_fees) | 92 |
| **PART IV** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 15. | [Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules](#item15_exhibits) | 93 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Item 16. | [Form 10-K Summary](#item16_form10k_summary) | 94 |

---

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**CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS** 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") contains "forward-looking statements" that generally relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this Annual Report that address activities, events or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as movements in the digital asset markets and indexes that track such movements, the Trust's operations, the Sponsor's plans and references to the Trust's future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the Sponsor has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors we identify in this Annual Report and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the Sponsor's expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed in this Annual Report, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that actual results or developments the Sponsor anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, the Trust's operations or the value of its Shares.

Should one or more of these risks discussed in this Annual Report or other uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on the Sponsor's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and neither the Trust nor the Sponsor is under a duty or undertakes an obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, other than as required by applicable laws. Moreover, neither the Trust, the Sponsor, nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Investors are therefore cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

**Risk Factors Summary**

The following is only a summary of the principal risks that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, which should be read in conjunction with the detailed description of these risks in "[*<u>Item 1A. Risk Factors.</u>*](#item_1a_risk_factors)" Some of the factors that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows include, but are not limited to, the following:

**Risk Factors Related to Digital Assets**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The trading prices of many digital assets, including ether, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading prices of ether, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the fundamental investment characteristics of ether as a digital asset, including the fact that digital assets are bearer instruments and loss, theft, destruction, or compromise of the associated private keys could result in permanent loss of the asset, and the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies such as the blockchain ledger for ether.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Digital assets represent a new and rapidly evolving industry, and the value of the Shares depends on the acceptance of ether.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Changes in the governance of a digital asset network may not receive sufficient support from users and validators, which may negatively affect that digital asset network's ability to grow and respond to challenges.

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**Risks Associated with Ether and the Ethereum Network**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of ether, the value of which may be highly volatile and subject to fluctuations due to a number of factors.

**Risks Associated with Investing in the Trust**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•If the process of creation and redemption of Baskets encounters any unanticipated difficulties, the possibility for arbitrage transactions by registered broker-dealers who have entered into written agreements with the Sponsor and the Trustee (each, an "Authorized Participant") intended to keep the price of the Shares closely linked to the price of ether may not exist and, as a result, the price of the Shares may fall or otherwise diverge from the net asset value per Share ("NAV").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The liquidity of the Shares may also be affected by the withdrawal from participation of Authorized Participants or ether trading counterparties.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Security threats to the Trust's account at the Custodian could result in the halting of Trust operations and a loss of Trust assets or damage to the reputation of the Trust, each of which could result in a reduction in the value of the Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Ether transactions are irrevocable and stolen or incorrectly transferred ether may be irretrievable. As a result, any incorrectly executed ether transactions could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

**Risks Associated with the Index and Index Pricing**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Index has a limited performance history, the Index price could fail to track the global ether price, and a failure of the Index price could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Index price used to calculate the value of the Trust's ether may be volatile, adversely affecting the value of the Shares.

**Regulatory Risk**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Digital asset markets in the United States exist in a state of regulatory uncertainty, and adverse legislative or regulatory developments could significantly harm the value of ether or the Shares, such as by banning, restricting or imposing onerous conditions or prohibitions on the use of ether, validation activity, digital wallets, the provision of services related to trading and custody of ether, the operation of the Ethereum network, or the digital asset markets generally.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Regulatory changes or interpretations could obligate an Authorized Participant, the Trust, or the Sponsor to register and comply with new regulations, resulting in potentially extraordinary, nonrecurring expenses to the Trust.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The treatment of digital assets for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes is uncertain.

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**PART I**

**Item 1. Business.** 

**Summary** 

Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust") is a Delaware statutory trust formed on October 31, 2023. The Trust issues common shares of beneficial interest ("Shares"), which represent fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The Shares of the Trust are listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. ("Cboe BZX" or the "Exchange"). FD Funds Management LLC (the "Sponsor") is the sponsor of the Trust, CSC Delaware Trust Company (the "Trustee") is the trustee of the Trust, State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street" or the "Transfer Agent") is the Trust's transfer agent (in such capacity, the "Transfer Agent") and cash custodian (in such capacity, the "Cash Custodian"), and Fidelity Digital Assets, N.A. (formerly Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC) ("FDA" or the "Custodian") is the custodian for the Trust, and will hold all of the Trust's ether on the Trust's behalf. The operations of the Trust are governed by the Trust Agreement, as amended and/or restated from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust is an exchange-traded product. When the Trust sells or redeems its Shares, it will do so in blocks of 25,000 Shares (a "Basket") based on the quantity of ether attributable to each Share of the Trust (net of accrued but unpaid expenses and liabilities).

The Trust's inception of operation was July 23, 2024. The Trust has not had any operations prior to July 23, 2024, other than matters relating to its organization and the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act").

The Sponsor maintains a website www.fidelity.com, through which the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), can be accessed free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The information on the Trust's website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC. Additional information regarding the Trust may also be found on the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.

**Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies** 

*Investment Objectives*

The Trust's investment objective is to seek to track the performance of ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, as measured by the performance of the Fidelity Ethereum Reference Rate (the "Index"), adjusted for the Trust's expenses and other liabilities. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Trust holds ether.

*Principal Investment Strategies* 

The Trust will hold ether and values its Shares daily as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time ("EST") using the same methodology used to calculate the Index. All of the Trust's ether is held by the Custodian.

The Index is designed to reflect the performance of ether in U.S. dollars. The Index is constructed using ether price feeds from eligible ether spot markets and a volume-weighted median price ("VWMP") methodology, calculated every 15 seconds based on VWMP spot market data over rolling sixty-minute increments to develop an ether price composite. The Index methodology was developed by Fidelity Product Services LLC (the "Index Provider") and is monitored by the Fidelity Index Committee (the "Committee") with the assistance of the Fidelity Digital Asset Management Investment Committee. Coin Metrics, Inc. is the third-party calculation agent ("Calculation Agent") for the Index.

The Trust provides exposure to the value of ether, and the Shares of the Trust are valued on a daily basis using the same methodology used to calculate the Index. The Trust provides investors with the opportunity to access the market for ether through a traditional brokerage account without the potential barriers to entry or risks involved with holding or transferring ether directly or acquiring it from an ether spot market. The Trust is passively managed and does not pursue active management investment strategies. The Trust keeps custody of its ether at an affiliate of the Sponsor, Fidelity Digital Assets, N.A. ("FDA" or the "Custodian"), a national trust bank that provides custody and trade execution services for digital assets. The Trust will not stake the ether custodied at the Custodian. The Trust will not invest in derivatives.

**Information About Ether, Ether Markets and Regulation of Ether**

This section of the Annual Report provides a more detailed description of ether, including information about the historical development of ether, how a person holds ether, how to use ether in transactions, how to trade ether, the spot markets where ether can be bought, held and sold, the ether over-the-counter ("OTC") market and the proof-of-stake concept.

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*Ether and the Ethereum network* 

Ether is a digital asset that is created and transmitted through the operations of the Ethereum peer-to-peer network and associated blockchain ledger (the "Ethereum blockchain" and together the "Ethereum network"), a network of computers, known as nodes, that operates on cryptographic computer-code based logic, called a protocol. No single entity owns or operates the Ethereum network, the infrastructure of which is collectively maintained by a distributed user base, a phenomenon known as decentralization. Ether is not issued by governments, banks or any other centralized authority. The Ethereum network allows people to exchange tokens of value, called ether, which are recorded on a public transaction ledger known as the Ethereum blockchain. Ether can be used to pay for goods and services, including computational power on the Ethereum network, or it can be converted to fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, at rates determined on digital asset exchanges or in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system.

The Ethereum network allows users to write and implement computer programs called smart contracts—that is, general-purpose code that executes on every computer in the network and can instruct the transmission of information and value based on a sophisticated set of logical conditions. Using smart contracts, users can create markets, store registries of debts or promises, represent the ownership of property, move funds in accordance with conditional instructions and create digital assets other than ether on the Ethereum network. Smart contract operations are executed on the Ethereum blockchain in exchange for payment of ether. The Ethereum network is one of a number of projects intended to expand blockchain use beyond just a peer-to-peer money system.

The Ethereum network is commonly understood to be decentralized and does not require governmental authorities or financial institution intermediaries to create, transmit or determine the value of ether. Rather, following the initial distribution of ether, ether is created, burned and allocated by the Ethereum network protocol through a process that is currently subject to an issuance and burn rate as further described under "[*<u>Limits on Ether Supply</u>*](#limits_on_ether_supply)" below. The value of ether is determined by the supply of and demand for ether on the digital asset exchanges or in private end-user-to-end-user transactions. There is no hard cap which would limit the number of outstanding ether at any one time to a predetermined maximum.

New ether are created and rewarded to the validators of a block in the Ethereum blockchain for verifying transactions. The Ethereum blockchain is effectively a decentralized database that includes all blocks that have been validated and it is updated to include new blocks as they are validated. Each ether transaction is broadcast to the Ethereum network and, when included in a block, recorded in the Ethereum blockchain. As each new block records outstanding ether transactions, and outstanding transactions are settled and validated through such recording, the Ethereum blockchain represents a complete, transparent and unbroken history of all transactions of the Ethereum network.

Among other things, ether is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services (i.e., smart contracts) on the Ethereum network; users of the Ethereum network pay for the computational power of the machines executing the requested operations with ether. Requiring payment in ether on the Ethereum network incentivizes developers to write quality applications and increases the efficiency of the Ethereum network because wasteful code costs more. It also ensures that the Ethereum network remains economically viable by compensating people for their contributed computational resources.

*History of Ethereum*

Ether is the digital asset that powers the Ethereum network and serves as the network's native unit of account that is used to pay the "gas" fees needed to power decentralized applications and smart contracts and execute transactions. Unlike other digital assets, such as bitcoin, which are solely created through a progressive mining process, 72.0 million ether were created in connection with the launch of the Ethereum network. Coinciding with the network launch, it was decided that EthSuisse would be dissolved, designating the Ethereum Foundation as the sole organization dedicated to protocol development.

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*Smart Contracts and Development on the Ethereum Network*

Smart contracts are programs that run on a blockchain that can execute automatically when certain conditions are met. Smart contracts facilitate the exchange of anything representative of value, such as money, information, property, or voting rights. Using smart contracts, users can send or receive digital assets, create markets, store registries of debts or promises, represent ownership of property or a company, move funds in accordance with conditional instructions and create new digital assets.

Development on the Ethereum network involves building more complex tools on top of smart contracts, such as decentralized applications ("DApps"); organizations that are autonomous, known as decentralized autonomous organizations ("DAOs"); and entirely new decentralized networks. For example, a company that distributes charitable donations on behalf of users could hold donated funds in smart contracts that are paid to charities only if the charity satisfies certain pre-defined conditions.

The Ethereum network has also been used as a platform for creating new digital assets and conducting their associated initial coin offerings. As of December 31, 2025, it is believed that a majority of digital assets not issued as the native token on their own blockchains were built on the Ethereum network, with such assets representing a significant amount of the total market value of all digital assets.

More recently, the Ethereum network has been used for DeFi or open finance platforms, which seek to democratize access to financial services, such as borrowing, lending, custody, trading, derivatives and insurance, by removing third-party intermediaries. DeFi can allow users to lend and earn interest on their digital assets, exchange one digital asset for another and create derivative digital assets such as algorithmic stablecoins, which are digital assets pegged to a reserve asset such as fiat currency. During 2025, between $43.1 billion and $97.4 billion worth of digital assets were locked up as collateral on DeFi platforms on the Ethereum network.

In addition, the Ethereum network and other smart contract platforms have been used for creating non-fungible tokens ("NFTs"). Unlike digital assets native to smart contract platforms which are fungible and enable the payment of fees for smart contract execution, NFTs allow for digital ownership of assets that convey certain rights to other digital or real-world assets. This new paradigm allows users to own rights to other assets through NFTs, which enable users to trade them with others on the Ethereum network. For example, an NFT may convey rights to a digital asset that exists in an online game or a DApp, and users can trade their NFT in the DApp or game, and carry them to other digital experiences, creating an entirely new free-market internet-native economy that can be monetized in the physical world.

*The DAO and Ethereum Classic*

In July 2016, the Ethereum network experienced what is referred to as a permanent hard fork that resulted in two different versions of its blockchain: Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.

In April 2016, a blockchain solutions company known as Slock announced the launch of a decentralized autonomous organization, known as "The DAO" on the Ethereum network. The DAO was designed as a decentralized crowdfunding model, in which anyone could contribute ether to The DAO in order to become a voting member and equity stakeholder in the organization. Members of The DAO could then make proposals about different projects to pursue and put them to a vote. By committing to profitable projects, members would be rewarded based on the terms of a smart contract and their proportional interest in The DAO. As of May 27, 2016, $150 million, or approximately 14% of all ether outstanding, was contributed to, and invested in, The DAO.

On June 17, 2016, an anonymous hacker exploited The DAO's smart contract code to siphon approximately $60 million, or 3.6 million ether, into a segregated account. Upon the news of the breach, the price of ether was quickly cut in half as investors liquidated their holdings and members of the Ethereum community worked to determine a solution.

In the days that followed, several attempts were made to retrieve the stolen funds and secure the Ethereum network. However, it soon became apparent that direct interference with the protocol (i.e., a hard fork) would be necessary. The argument for the hard fork was that it would create an entirely new version of the Ethereum blockchain, erasing any record of the theft, and restoring the stolen funds to their original owners. The counterargument was that it would be antithetical to the core principle of immutability of the Ethereum blockchain.

The decision as to whether or not to hard fork the Ethereum blockchain was put to a vote of Ethereum community members. A majority of votes were cast in favor of a hard fork. On July 15, 2016, a hard fork specification was implemented by the Ethereum Foundation. On July 20, 2016, the Ethereum network completed the hard fork, and a new version of the blockchain, without recognition of the theft, was born.

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Many believed that after the hard fork the original version of the Ethereum blockchain would dissipate entirely. However, a group of validators continued to mine the original Ethereum blockchain for philosophical and economic reasons. On July 20, 2016, the original Ethereum protocol was rebranded as "Ethereum Classic," and its native token as ether classic (ETC), preserving the untampered transaction history (including the theft involving The DAO). Following the hard fork of Ethereum, each holder of ether automatically received an equivalent number of ETC tokens.

*Overview of the Ethereum Network's Operations*

In order to own, transfer or use ether directly on the Ethereum network on a peer-to-peer basis (as opposed to through an intermediary, such as a custodian or centralized exchange), a person generally must have internet access to connect to the Ethereum network. Ether transactions may be made directly between end-users without the need for a third-party intermediary. To prevent the possibility of double-spending ether, a user must notify the Ethereum network of the transaction by broadcasting the transaction data to its network peers. The Ethereum network provides confirmation against double-spending by memorializing every peer-to-peer transaction in the Ethereum blockchain, which is publicly accessible and transparent. This memorialization and verification against double-spending of peer-to-peer transactions is accomplished through the Ethereum network validation process, which adds "blocks" of data, including recent transaction information, to the Ethereum blockchain.

*Summary of an Ether Transaction*

A "transaction request" refers to a request to the Ethereum network made by a user, in which the requesting user (the "sender") asks the Ethereum network to send some ether or execute some code. A "transaction" refers to a fulfilled transaction request and the associated change in the Ethereum network's state. An Ethereum client ("Ethereum Client") is a software application that implements the Ethereum network specification and communicates with the Ethereum network. A node is a computer or other device, such as a mobile phone, running an individual Ethereum Client that is connected to other computers also running their own Ethereum Clients, which collectively form the Ethereum network. Nodes can be full nodes (meaning they host a local copy of the entire Ethereum blockchain) or light nodes, which only host a local copy of a sub-portion of the full Ethereum blockchain with reduced data. Nodes may (but do not have to) be validators, which requires them to download an additional piece of software in the node's Ethereum Client and stake a certain amount of ether, which is discussed below.

Any user can broadcast a transaction request to the Ethereum network from a node located on the network. A user can run their own node, or they can connect to a node operated by others. For the transaction request to actually result in a change to the current state of the Ethereum network, it must be validated, executed, and "committed to the network" by another node (specifically, a validator node). Execution of the transaction request by the validator results in a change to the Ethereum network's state once the transaction is broadcast to all other nodes across the Ethereum network. Transactions can include, for example, sending ether from one account to another, as discussed below; publishing a new smart contract onto the Ethereum network; or activating and executing the code of an existing smart contract, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the sender's transaction request.

The Ethereum blockchain can be thought of as a ledger recording a history of transactions and the balances associated with individual accounts, each of which has an address on the Ethereum network. An Ethereum network account can be used to store ether. There are two types of Ethereum accounts: "externally owned accounts," which are controlled by a private key, and "smart contract accounts," which are controlled by their own code. Externally owned accounts are controlled by users, do not contain executable code, and are associated with a unique "public key" and "private key" pair, commonly referred to as a "wallet," with the private key being used to execute transactions. Smart contract accounts contain, and are controlled by, their own executable code: every time the smart contract account receives a transaction from, or is "called" by, another user, the smart contract account's code activates, allowing it to read and write to internal storage, send ether, or perform other operations. Both externally owned accounts and smart contract accounts can be used to send, hold, or receive ether, and both can interact with other smart contracts. However, only externally owned accounts have the power to initiate transactions; smart contract accounts can only send transactions of their own after they are first activated or called by another transaction. An externally owned account is associated with both a public address on the Ethereum network and a private key, while a smart contract account is only associated with a public address. While a smart contract account does not use a private key to authorize transactions, including transfers of ether, the developer of a smart contract may hold an "admin key" to the smart contract account, or have special access privileges, allowing the developer to make changes to the smart contract, enable or disable features on the smart contract, or change how the smart contract receives external inputs and data, among others.

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Accounts depend on nodes to access the peer-to-peer Ethereum network. Through the node's Ethereum Client, a user's Ethereum wallet and its associated Ethereum network address enable the user to connect to the Ethereum network and transfer ether to, and receive ether from, other users, and interact with smart contracts, on a peer-to-peer basis. A user with an externally owned account can run their own node (and their own Ethereum Client) and connect that node to their Ethereum wallet, allowing them to make transactions from their Ethereum wallet on the Ethereum network, or a user's wallet can connect to third-party nodes operated as a service (e.g., Infura) and access the Ethereum network that way. Multiple accounts can access the Ethereum network through one node.

Each user's Ethereum wallet is associated with a unique "public key" and "private key" pair. To receive ether in a peer-to-peer transaction, the ether recipient must provide its public key to the sender. This activity is analogous to a recipient for a transaction in U.S. dollars providing a routing address in wire instructions to the payor so that cash may be wired to the recipient's account. The sender approves the transfer to the address provided by the recipient by "signing" a transaction that consists of the recipient's public key with the private key of the address from which the sender is transferring the ether. The recipient, however, does not make public or provide to the sender the recipient's related private key, only its public key.

Neither the recipient nor the sender reveal their private keys in a peer-to-peer transaction because the private key authorizes transfer of the funds in that address to other users. Therefore, if a user loses their private key, the user may permanently lose access to the ether contained in the associated address. Likewise, ether is irretrievably lost if the private key associated with them is deleted and no backup has been made. When sending ether, a user's Ethereum wallet must sign the transaction with the sender's associated private key. In addition, since every computation on the Ethereum network requires processing power, there is a mandatory transaction fee involved with the transfer that is paid by the sender to the Ethereum network itself ("base fee"), plus additional transaction fees the sender can elect (or not) to pay at their discretion to the validators who validate their transaction ("tip"). The resulting digitally signed transaction is sent by the user's Ethereum wallet, via a node (whether run by the user or operated by others), to other Ethereum network nodes, who in turn broadcast it on a peer-to-peer basis to validators to allow transaction confirmation.

Ethereum network validators record and confirm transactions when they validate and add blocks of information to the Ethereum blockchain. Validators operate through nodes whose Ethereum Clients have an extra piece of software that permits the node to perform validation transactions. In a proof-of-stake consensus protocol like that used by the Ethereum network, validators are randomly selected to validate transactions. A validator must stake 32 ether to become a validator, which allows it to activate a unique validator key pair (consisting of a public and private validator key). Each 32 ether that is staked results in issuance of a validator key pair, meaning that multiple validators can operate through a single validator node (including a validator node operated by a third party as a service). Validators generally both propose blocks ("proposers") and participate in a committee that approves the block ("attesters"). Validators are selected based on a random process. A single person or entity running a group of validators does not gain an advantage in any one of their validators being selected. Further, an ether balance less than 32 ether (implying a slashing or inactivity leak penalty) will reduce the probability of being selected providing a bias to the better performing validators and good actors. A single person or entity can increase the numerical chances that any of their validators will be randomly selected by staking ether over multiple validators. When a validator is randomly selected by the protocol's algorithm to propose a block, it submits a proposal for the block to be committed to the blockchain subject to completion of validation by other validators on the network, which includes data relating to (i) the verification of newly submitted transaction requests submitted by senders and (ii) a reference to the prior block in the Ethereum blockchain to which the new block is being added. The proposing validator becomes aware of outstanding transaction requests through peer-to-peer data packet transmission and distribution enforced by the Ethereum protocol rules, which connects the proposer to users who want transactions recorded. If, once created, the proposing validator's block is confirmed by a committee of randomly selected attesters, the block is committed to the Ethereum network and added to the Ethereum blockchain. Any smart contract code that has been called by the transaction request is also executed (provided the base fee is paid for the Ethereum network's computational power associated with executing the code, and up to the amount of the base fee). Upon the addition of a block included in the Ethereum blockchain, an adjustment to the ether balance in both the sender's and the recipient's Ethereum network public key will occur, completing the ether transaction. Once a transaction is confirmed on the Ethereum blockchain, it is irreversible.

As a reward for their services in adding the block to the Ethereum blockchain, the proposing validators receive redistributed ether (i.e., "tips") and the attesting validators receive newly minted ether. If the proposing validator's block is determined by the approving validator committee to be faulty or to break protocol rules, the proposer is penalized by having their staked ether reduced. Validators can also be penalized for attesting to transactions that break protocol rules or are inconsistent with the majority of other validators, or for inactivity or missing attestations that the Ethereum network protocol assigned to them. In extreme cases, a proposing or attesting validator can be "slashed", meaning forcibly ejected by other validators, with their staked ether continuously drained, potentially up to the loss of their entire stake. In this way, the Ethereum network attempts to reduce double-spend and other attacks by validators and incentivize validator integrity.

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Some ether transactions are conducted "off-blockchain" and are therefore not recorded in the Ethereum blockchain. Some "off-blockchain transactions" involve the transfer of ownership of a specific digital wallet holding ether or the reallocation of ownership of certain ether in a pooled-ownership digital wallet, such as a digital wallet owned by a digital asset exchange. If a transaction takes place through a centralized digital asset exchange or a custodian's internal books and records, it is not broadcast to the Ethereum network or recorded on the Ethereum blockchain. In contrast to on-blockchain transactions, which are publicly recorded on the Ethereum blockchain, information and data regarding off-blockchain transactions are generally not publicly available. Therefore, off-blockchain transactions are not peer-to-peer ether transactions in that they do not involve a transaction on the Ethereum network and do not reflect a movement of ether between addresses recorded in the Ethereum blockchain. For these reasons, off-blockchain transactions are not immutable or irreversible as any such transfer of ether ownership is not cryptographically protected by the protocol behind the Ethereum network or recorded in, and validated through, the blockchain mechanism.

*Ether Markets and Exchanges*

Ether spot markets hosted on centralized venues typically permit investors to open accounts with the market and then purchase and sell ether via websites or through mobile applications. Prices for trades on ether spot markets are typically reported publicly. In general, an investor opening a trading account on such a venue must deposit an accepted government-issued currency into its account with the spot market, or a previously acquired digital asset, before they can purchase or sell assets on the spot market. The process of establishing an account with an ether market and trading ether is different from, and should not be confused with, the process of users sending ether from one ether address to another ether address on the Ethereum network. This latter process is an activity that occurs on the Ethereum network, while the former is an activity that occurs entirely within the order book operated by the spot market. The spot market typically records the investor's ownership of ether in its internal books and records, rather than on the Ethereum blockchain. The spot market ordinarily does not transfer ether to the investor on the Ethereum blockchain unless the investor makes a request to the exchange to withdraw the ether in its exchange account to an off-exchange ether wallet.

Outside of the spot markets, ether can be traded OTC. The OTC market is largely institutional in nature, and OTC market participants generally consist of institutional entities, such as firms that offer two-sided liquidity for ether, investment managers, proprietary trading firms, high-net-worth individuals that trade ether on a proprietary basis, entities with sizable ether holdings and family offices. The OTC market provides a relatively flexible market in terms of quotes, price, quantity, and other factors, although it tends to involve large blocks of ether. The OTC market has no formal structure and no open-outcry meeting place. Parties engaging in OTC transactions will agree upon a price—often via chat or voice—and then one of the two parties will initiate the transaction. For example, a seller of ether could initiate the transaction by sending the ether to the buyer's Ethereum network address. The buyer would then wire U.S. dollars to the seller's bank account. OTC trades are sometimes hedged and eventually settled with accompanying trades on ether spot markets.

In addition, ether futures and options trading occurs on exchanges in the United States regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"). The market for CFTC-regulated trading of ether derivatives has developed substantially. Ether futures on the CME ("CME Ether Futures") traded around $43.42 billion per month in the one year ending December 31, 2025 and represented around $56.23 billion in open interest per month.

*Initial Creation of Ether*

Unlike other digital assets, such as bitcoin, which are solely created through a progressive mining process, 72.0 million ether were created in connection with the launch of the Ethereum network. The initial 72.0 million ether were distributed as follows:

<u>Initial Distribution</u>: 60.0 million ether, or 83.33% of the supply, was sold to the public in a crowd sale conducted between July and August 2014 that raised approximately $18 million.

<u>Ethereum Foundation</u>: 6.0 million ether, or 8.33% of the supply, was distributed to the Ethereum Foundation for operational costs.

<u>Ethereum Developers</u>: 3.0 million ether, or 4.17% of the supply, was distributed to developers who contributed to the Ethereum network.

<u>Developer Purchase Program</u>: 3.0 million ether, or 4.17% of the supply, was distributed to members of the Ethereum Foundation to purchase at the initial crowd sale price.

Following the launch of the Ethereum network, ether supply initially increased through a progressive validation process. Following the introduction of EIP-1559, described below, the ether supply and issuance rate has varied based on factors such as recent use of the network.

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*Proof-of-Work Validation Process*

Prior to September 2022, Ethereum operated using a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Under proof-of-work, in order to incentivize those who incurred the computational costs of securing the network by validating transactions, there was a reward given to the computer (under proof-of-work, validators were known as "miners") that was able to create the latest block on the chain. Every 12 seconds, on average, a new block was added to the Ethereum blockchain with the latest transactions processed by the network, and the miner that generated this block was awarded a variable amount of ether, depending on use of the network at the time. In certain validation scenarios, ether was sometimes sent to another miner if they were also able to find a solution but their block was not included. This is referred to as an "uncle/aunt reward." Due to the nature of the algorithm for block generation, this process (generating a "proof-of-work") was guaranteed to be random. Prior to the Merge upgrade, described below, miners on the Ethereum network engaged in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the Ethereum blockchain and thereby confirm ether transactions included in that block's data.

*Proof-of-Stake Process*

In the second half of 2020, the Ethereum network began the first of several stages of an upgrade that was initially known as "Ethereum 2.0." and eventually became known as the "Merge" to transition the Ethereum network from a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. The Merge was completed on September 15, 2022, and the Ethereum network has operated on a proof-of-stake model since such time.

Unlike proof-of-work, in which validators expend computational resources to compete to validate transactions and are rewarded coins in proportion to the amount of computational resources expended, in proof-of-stake, validators risk or "stake" coins to compete to be randomly selected to validate transactions and are rewarded coins in proportion to the amount of coins staked. Any malicious activity, such as validating multiple blocks, disagreeing with the eventual consensus or otherwise violating protocol rules, results in the forfeiture or "slashing" of a portion of the staked coins. Proof-of-stake is believed by some to be more energy efficient and scalable than proof-of-work. Every 12 seconds, approximately, a new block is added to the Ethereum blockchain with the latest transactions processed by the network, and the validator that generated this block is awarded ether.

*Limits on Ether Supply*

The rate at which new ether are issued and put into circulation is expected to vary. In September 2022 the Ethereum network converted from proof-of-work to a new proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Following the Merge, approximately 1,700 coins are issued per day, though the issuance rate varies based on factors such as recent use of the network. In addition, the issuance of new ether could be partially or completely offset by the burn mechanism introduced by the EIP-1559 modification, under which ether are removed from supply at a rate that varies with network usage. See "[*<u>Modifications to the Ethereum Protocol</u>*<u>.</u>](#modifications_to_the_ethereum_protocol)" On occasion, the ether supply has been deflationary over a 24-hour period as a result of the burn mechanism. The attributes of the new consensus algorithm are subject to change but, in sum, the new consensus algorithm and related modifications reduced total new ether issuances and could turn the ether supply deflationary over the long term.

As of December 31, 2025, the current circulating supply of ether is estimated to be around 120.69 million coins.

*Modifications to the Ethereum Protocol*

The Ethereum network is an open-source project with no official developer or group of developers that controls it. However, historically the Ethereum network's development has been overseen by the Ethereum Foundation and other core developers. The Ethereum Foundation and core developers are able to access and alter the Ethereum network source code and, as a result, they are responsible for quasi-official releases of updates and other changes to the Ethereum network's source code. However, the release of proposed updates to the Ethereum network's source code by core developers does not guarantee that the updates will be adopted. Nodes must accept any changes made to the Ethereum source code by choosing to download the proposed modification of the Ethereum network's source code in their individual Ethereum Client, and ultimately a critical mass (in practice, a substantial majority) of validators and users—such as DApp and smart contract developers, as well as users of DApps and smart contracts, and anyone else who transacts on the Ethereum blockchain or Ethereum network—must support the shift, or the upgrades will lack adoption. A modification of the Ethereum network's source code is only effective with respect to the Ethereum nodes that download it and modify their Ethereum Clients accordingly, and in practice such decisions are heavily influenced by the preferences of validators and users. If a modification is accepted by less than a substantial majority of users and validators, a division in the Ethereum network will occur such that one network will run the pre-modification source code and the other network will run the modified source code. Such a division is known as a "fork." See "*Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Digital Assets —* [*<u>A temporary or permanent "fork" could adversely affect the value of the Shares.</u>*](#a_temporary_or_permanent_fork)" Consequently, as a practical matter, a modification to the source code becomes part of the Ethereum network only if accepted by a sufficiently broad cross-section of the Ethereum network's participants.

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For example, in 2019 the Ethereum network completed a network upgrade called Metropolis that was designed to enhance the usability of the Ethereum network and was introduced in two stages. The first stage, called Byzantium, was implemented in October 2017. The purpose of Byzantium was to increase the network's privacy, security, and scalability and reduce the block reward for validators (at that time, validators on the proof-of-work consensus version of Ethereum were known as "miners") who created new blocks in proof-of-work consensus from 5.0 ether to 3.0 ether. The second stage, called Constantinople, was implemented in February 2019, along with another upgrade, called St. Petersburg. Another network upgrade, called Istanbul, was implemented in December 2019. The purpose of Istanbul was to make the network more resistant to denial-of-service attacks, enable greater ether and Zcash interoperability as well as other Equihash-based proof-of-work digital assets, and to increase the scalability and performance for solutions on zero-knowledge privacy technology like SNARKs and STARKs. The purpose of these upgrades was to prepare the Ethereum network for the introduction of a proof-of-stake algorithm and reduce the block reward from 3.0 ether to 2.0 ether.

In the second half of 2020, the Ethereum network began the first of several stages of an upgrade culminating in the Merge. The Merge amended the Ethereum network's consensus mechanism to be proof-of-stake, and was intended to address the perceived shortcomings of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism in terms of labor intensity and duplicative computational effort expended by validators (known under proof-of-work as "miners") who did not win the race, under proof of work, to be the first in time to solve the cryptographic puzzle that would allow them to be the only validator permitted to validate the block and receive the resulting block reward (which was given only to the first validator to successfully solve the puzzle and hash a given block, and not to others).

Following the Merge, core development of the Ethereum source code has increasingly focused on modifications of the Ethereum protocol to increase speed, throughput and scalability and also improve existing or next generation uses. Future upgrades to the Ethereum protocol and Ethereum blockchain to address scaling issues—such as network congestion, slow throughput and periods of high transaction fees owing to spikes in network demand—have been discussed by network participants, such as sharding. The purpose of sharding, which has been discussed for years, is to increase scalability of the Ethereum blockchain by splitting the blockchain into subsections, called shards, and dividing validation responsibility so that a defined subset of validators would be responsible for each shard, rather than all validators being responsible for the entire blockchain, allowing for parallel processing and validation of transactions. However, there appears to be uncertainty and a lack of existing widespread consensus among network participants about how to solve the scaling challenges faced by the Ethereum network.

The rapid development of other competing scalability solutions, such as those that would rely on handling the bulk of computational work relating to transactions or smart contracts and decentralized applications ("DApps") outside of the main Ethereum network and Ethereum blockchain, has caused alternatives to sharding to emerge. "Layer 2" is a collective term for solutions that are designed to help increase throughput and reduce transaction fees by handling or validating transactions off the main Ethereum network (known as "Layer 1") and then attempting to take advantage of the perceived security and integrity advantages of the Layer 1 Ethereum network by uploading the transactions validated on the Layer 2 protocol back to the Layer 1 Ethereum network. The details of how this is done vary significantly between different Layer 2 technologies and implementations. For example, "rollups" perform transaction execution outside the Layer 1 blockchain and then post the data, typically in batches, back to the Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain where consensus is reached. "Zero knowledge rollups" are generally designed to run the computation needed to validate the transactions off-chain, on the Layer 2 protocol, and submit a proof of validity of a batch of transactions (not the entire transactions themselves). By contrast, "optimistic rollups" assume transactions are valid by default and only run computation, via a fraud proof, in the event of a challenge. Other proposed Layer 2 scaling solutions include, among others, "state channels", which are designed to allow participants to run a large number of transactions on the Layer 2 side channel protocol and only submit two transactions to the main Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain (the transaction opening the state channel, and the transaction closing the channel); and "side chains," in which an entire Layer 2 blockchain network with capabilities similar to those of the existing Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain runs in parallel with the existing Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain and allows smart contracts and DApps to run on the Layer 2 side chain without burdening the main Layer 1 network. To date, the Ethereum network community has not coalesced overwhelmingly around any particular Layer 2 solution, though this could change.

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Apart from solutions designed to address scalability challenges, there have been other upgrades as well. In 2021, the Ethereum network implemented the EIP-1559 upgrade. EIP-1559 changed the methodology used to calculate the fees paid to validators. EIP 1559 resulted in the splitting of fees into two components: a base fee and tip. Ether used to pay the base fee is as a result of EIP 1559 removed from circulation, or "burnt," and the tip is paid to validators. EIP-1559 has reduced the total net issuance of ether fees to validators. Future updates may impact the supply of or demand for ether or its price. On March 13, 2024, the Ethereum network underwent a planned fork called "Dencun" implementing a series of EIPs. EIP 4844, which some commentators perceive to be the most significant EIP within the Dencun series, is intended to improve the economics of Layer 2s by introducing a temporary storage solution, called Binary Large Objects ("blobs"), which is expected to reduce the cost of recording batched transactions on the Ethereum Network. Operators of Layer 2 blockchains now have a choice of using two types of data storage: as temporary blob space stored for 4096 epochs (approximately 18 days) or as permanent smart contract call data. Because the data is pruned from the Ethereum Network new service providers are likely to emerge which store the historical blob data beyond the pruning period. As expected, and immediately following the upgrade, some Layer 2s reported reduced gas fees when batching transactions to the Ethereum network which in turn lowered the transaction costs on the Layer 2. As with any change to software code, planned forks such as Dencun could introduce bugs, coding defects, unanticipated or undiscovered problems, flaws, security risks, or problematic incentive structures, or such planned forks could otherwise fail to work as intended or achieve the expected benefits that proponents hope for in the short term or the long term, which could also have an adverse effect on adoption of the Ethereum network and the value of ether, and therefore the Shares.

The Trust's activities will not directly relate to scalability or upgrade projects, though such projects may potentially increase demand for ether and the utility of the Ethereum network as a whole. Conversely, if they are unsuccessful or they cause users or application or smart contract developers to migrate away from the Ethereum blockchain, demand for ether could potentially be reduced. Also, projects that operate and are built within the Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain and network may increase the data flow on the Ethereum network and could either "bloat" the size of the Ethereum blockchain or slow confirmation times.

*Forms of Attack Against the Ethereum Network*

All networked systems are vulnerable to various kinds of attacks. As with any computer network, the Ethereum network contains certain flaws. For example, the Ethereum network is currently vulnerable to a "51% attack" where, if a validator or group of validators acting in concert were to gain control of more than 50% of the staked ether, a malicious actor would be able to gain full control of the network and the ability to manipulate the Ethereum blockchain. The top three largest staking pools controlled nearly 50% of the ether staked on the Ethereum network.

In addition, many digital asset networks have been subjected to a number of denial-of-service attacks, which have led to temporary delays in block creation and in the transfer of Ethereum. Any similar attacks on the Ethereum network that impact the ability to transfer ether could have a material adverse effect on the price of ether and the value of the Shares.

This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all forms of attack against the Ethereum network. For additional information, see the "[*<u>Risk Factors</u>*](#item_1a_risk_factors)" section of this Annual Report.

*Market Participants*

*Validators*

In proof-of-stake, validators risk or stake coins to be randomly selected to validate transactions and are rewarded for performing their responsibilities and behaving in accordance with protocol rules. Malfunctions that cause validators to go offline and, in turn, inhibit them from performing their duties can result in financial penalties (e.g., inactivity leak). Any malicious activity, such as proposing multiple blocks for the same slot, making incorrect attestations or otherwise violating protocol rules, results in the penalization or slashing of staked coins and forced exit from performing validator duties. The penalty varies depending on the type of offense and correlation to potential offenses by other validators.

Validators range from Ethereum enthusiasts to professional operations that design and build dedicated machines and data centers. On the Ethereum network, a validator must stake 32 ether in order to participate in maintaining the network. Once consensus is reached, the participating validator receives newly issued ETH as part of their consensus rewards and the priority fee as part of their execution rewards. The priority fee represents one of two components of the transaction fee. The second component is the base fee, which makes up the vast majority of the transaction fees paid by users and is not received by validators, but is instead taken out of circulation, or burnt. The base fee and the priority fee both fluctuate with network usership.

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*Investment and Speculative Sector*

This sector includes the investment and trading activities of both private and professional investors and speculators. Historically, larger financial services institutions are publicly reported to have limited involvement in investment and trading in digital assets, although the participation landscape is beginning to change. Currently, there is relatively limited use of digital assets in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively extensive use by speculators, and a significant portion of demand for digital assets is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of digital assets.

*Retail Sector*

The retail sector includes users transacting in direct peer-to-peer ether transactions through the direct sending of ether over the Ethereum network. The retail sector also includes transactions in which consumers pay for goods or services from commercial or service businesses through direct transactions or third-party service providers, although the use of ether as a means of payment is still developing and has not been accepted in the same manner as bitcoin due to ether's relative nascency and because ether has a generally different purpose than bitcoin.

*Service Sector*

This sector includes companies that provide a variety of services including the buying, selling, payment processing and storing of ether. For example, Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, Gemini, and LMAX Digital are some of the largest digital asset exchanges by volume traded. As the Ethereum network continues to grow in acceptance, it is anticipated that service providers will expand the currently available range of services and that additional parties will enter the service sector for the Ethereum network.

*Competition*

As of December 31, 2025, more than 10,000 other digital assets, as tracked by CoinMarketCap.com, have been developed since the inception of bitcoin, which is currently the most developed digital asset because of the length of time it has been in existence, the investment in the infrastructure that supports it, and the network of individuals and entities that are using bitcoin in transactions. While ether has enjoyed some success in its limited history, the aggregate value of outstanding ether is smaller than that of bitcoin and may be eclipsed by the more rapid development of other digital assets. In addition, while ether was the first digital asset with a network that served as a smart contracts platform, newer digital assets also function as smart contracts platforms, including Solana, Avalanche and Cardano. Some industry groups are also creating private, permissioned blockchain versions of Ethereum.

*Government Oversight, Though Increasing, Remains Limited*

As digital assets have grown in both popularity and market size, the U.S. Congress and a number of U.S. federal and state agencies (including Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN"), SEC, CFTC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS and state financial institution and securities regulators) have been examining the operations of digital asset networks, digital asset users and the digital asset markets, with particular focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities or fund criminal or terrorist enterprises and the safety and soundness of exchanges or other service providers that hold or custody digital assets for users. Many of these state and federal agencies have issued consumer advisories regarding the risks posed by digital assets to investors. In addition, federal and state agencies and other countries and international bodies have issued rules or guidance about the treatment of digital asset transactions or requirements for businesses engaged in digital asset activity.

In addition, the SEC, U.S. state securities regulators and several foreign governments have issued warnings and instituted legal proceedings in which they argue that certain digital assets may be classified as securities and that both those digital assets and any related initial coin offerings are subject to securities regulations. The outcomes of these proceedings, as well as ongoing and future regulatory actions may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of an investment in the Shares or the ability of the Trust to continue to operate. Additionally, U.S. state and federal as well as foreign regulators and legislatures have taken action against virtual currency businesses or enacted restrictive regimes in response to adverse publicity arising from hacks, consumer harm, or criminal activity stemming from virtual currency activity.

The CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over the ether futures markets. In addition, because the CFTC has determined that ether is a "commodity" under the CEA and the rules thereunder, it has jurisdiction to prosecute fraud and manipulation in the cash, or spot, market for ether. The CFTC has pursued enforcement actions relating to fraud and manipulation involving ether and ether markets. Beyond instances of fraud or manipulation, the CFTC generally does not oversee cash or spot market exchanges or transactions involving ether that do not use collateral, leverage, or financing.

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On February 8, 2021, the CME, a designated contract market ("DCM") registered with the CFTC launched new contracts for ether futures products. DCMs are boards of trades (or exchanges) that operate under the regulatory oversight of the CFTC, pursuant to Section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act. To obtain and maintain designation as a DCM, an exchange must comply on an initial and ongoing basis with twenty-three Core Principles established in Section 5(d) of the CEA. Among other things, a DCM is required to establish self- regulatory programs designed to enforce the DCM's rules, prevent market manipulation and customer and market abuses, and ensure the recording and safe storage of trade information. The CFTC engaged in a "heightened review" of the self-certification of ether futures, which required DCMs to enter direct or indirect information sharing agreements with spot market platforms to allow access to trade and trader data; to monitor data from cash markets with respect to price settlements and other ether prices more broadly, and identify anomalies and disproportionate moves in the cash markets compared to the futures markets; to engage in inquiries, including at the trade settlement level when necessary; and agree to regular coordination with CFTC surveillance staff on trade activities, including providing the CFTC surveillance team with trade settlement data upon request.

Various foreign jurisdictions have adopted, and may continue to, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the Ethereum network, the ether markets, and their users, particularly ether spot markets and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions' regulatory scope.

The effect of any future regulatory change on the Trust or ether is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and adverse to the Trust and the value of the Shares.

**Calculation of Net Asset Value**

For purposes of calculating the Trust's net asset value ("NAV") per Share, the Trust's holdings of ether will be valued using the same methodology as used to calculate the Index. The Index is constructed using ether price feeds from eligible spot markets and the VWMP methodology, calculated every 15 seconds based on VWMP market data over rolling sixty-minute increments.

The Sponsor believes that use of the Index mitigates against idiosyncratic market risk, as the failure of any individual spot market will not materially impact pricing for the Trust. It also allows the Administrator to calculate the NAV in a manner that significantly deters manipulation.

The Sponsor believes that the fact that there are multiple ether spot markets contributing prices to the NAV makes manipulation more difficult in a well-arbitraged and fractured market, as a malicious actor would need to manipulate multiple spot markets simultaneously to impact the NAV, or dramatically skew the historical distribution of volume between the various markets.

Since the Index is intended to represent the U.S. dollar value of one ether every 15 seconds based on VWMP spot market data over rolling sixty-minute increments, malicious actors would need to sustain efforts to manipulate the market over an extended period of time, or would need to replicate efforts multiple times across markets, potentially triggering review. This extended period also supports Authorized Participant activity by capturing volume over a longer time period, rather than forcing Authorized Participants to mark an individual close or auction. The use of a median price eliminates the ability of outlier prices to impact the NAV, as it systematically excludes those prices from the NAV calculation. The use of a volume-weighted median (as opposed to a traditional median) protects against attempts to manipulate the NAV by executing a large number of low-dollar trades, because any manipulation attempt would have to involve a majority of global spot ether volume in a narrow window to have any influence on the NAV.

The Trust's NAV per Share is calculated by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•taking the fair market value of its total assets based on the volume-weighted median price of ether used for the calculation of the Index;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•subtracting any liabilities; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•dividing that total by the total number of outstanding Shares.

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The Administrator calculates the NAV of the Trust once each Exchange trading day. The NAV for a normal trading day will be released after 4:00 p.m. EST. Trading during the core trading session on the Exchange typically closes at 4:00 p.m. EST. However, NAVs are not officially struck until after 4:00 p.m. EST. The pause after 4:00 p.m. EST provides an opportunity for the Sponsor to algorithmically detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur. The Sponsor has established a Fair Value Valuation and Liquidity Committee to carry out the day-to-day fair valuation responsibilities and has adopted policies and procedures to govern the fair valuation process and the activities of the Valuation and Liquidity Committee. If the Valuation and Liquidity Committee determines in good faith that the Index does not reflect an accurate ether price, then the Valuation and Liquidity Committee will instruct the Administrator to employ an alternative method to determine the fair value of the Trust's assets. In determining an alternative fair value method, the Valuation and Liquidity Committee generally considers such criteria as observable market-based inputs, including market quotations and last sale information from third-party pricing services and/or trading platforms on which ether are traded. The Valuation and Liquidity Committee's selection of third-party pricing services used considers the qualifications, experience, and history of the pricing services and whether their valuation methodologies and procedures are reasonably designed to produce prices that reflect fair value under the prevailing market conditions. Moreover, the terms of the Trust Agreement do not prohibit the Sponsor from changing the Index or other valuation method used to calculate the NAV of the Trust. Any such change in the Index or other valuation method could affect the value of the Shares and investors could suffer a substantial loss on their investment in the Trust. In the event of a material change, the Sponsor will notify Shareholders in a prospectus supplement and/or a current report on Form 8-K or in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable.

In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to the Trust for use by Shareholders and market professionals, a third-party financial data provider will calculate and disseminate throughout the core trading session on each trading day an updated intraday indicative value ("IIV"). The IIV will be calculated based on the Trust's ether holdings and any other assets expected to comprise that day's NAV calculation. The third-party financial data provider will use the Blockstream Crypto Data Feed Streaming Level 1 as the pricing source for the spot ether. The Blockstream Crypto Data Feed Streaming Level 1 calculates an average of current ether price levels of the ether trading platforms that are available on its feed. The ether trading platforms included in the Blockstream Crypto Data Feed Streaming Level 1 include Bitfinex, Bitstamp, and Gemini. The Trust will provide an IIV per Share updated every 15 seconds, as calculated by the Exchange or a third-party financial data provider during the Exchange's regular trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST ("Regular Trading Hours"). The IIV disseminated during Regular Trading Hours should not be viewed as an actual real-time update of the NAV, which will be calculated only once at the end of each trading day as described herein. The IIV will be widely disseminated on a per Share basis every 15 seconds during Regular Trading Hours through the facilities of the consolidated tape association (CTA) and Consolidated Quotation System (CQS) high speed lines. In addition, the IIV will be available through on-line information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.

The Trust's periodic financial statements may not utilize the NAV of the Trust determined by reference to the Index to the extent the methodology used to calculate the Index is deemed not to be consistent with GAAP. The Trust's periodic financial statements will be prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" ("ASC Topic 820") and utilize an exchange-traded price from the Trust's principal market for ether on the Trust's financial statement measurement date. The Sponsor will determine in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust's financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The Trust intends to engage a third-party vendor to obtain a price from a principal market for ether, which will be either the market the Trust normally transacts in for ether or, if the Trust does not normally transact in any market or such market suffers an operational interruption and is unavailable, determined and designated by such third-party vendor daily based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. Under GAAP, such a price is expected to be deemed a Level 1 input in accordance with the ASC Topic 820 because it is expected to be a quoted price in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

The Sponsor reserves the right to adjust the Share price of the Trust in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for Shareholders. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits. Such splits would decrease (in the case of a split) or increase (in the case of a reverse split) the proportionate NAV per Share but would have no effect on the net assets of the Trust or the proportionate voting rights of Shareholders or the value of any Shareholder's investment.

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**Fees and Expenses**

*Sponsor Fee*

The Trust will pay the Sponsor an annual unified fee of 0.25% of the Trust's Ether Holdings (the "Sponsor Fee"). The Trust's "Ether Holdings" is the quantity of the Trust's ether plus any cash or other assets held by the Trust represented in ether as calculated using the Index price, less its liabilities (which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses) represented in ether as calculated using the Index price. The Sponsor Fee is paid by the Trust to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement. The Administrator will calculate the Sponsor Fee in respect of each day by reference to the prior day's Ether Holdings. The Sponsor Fee will accrue daily in ether and be payable monthly in ether or cash. To the extent there are any on-chain transaction fees incurred in connection with the transfers of ether to pay the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor, and not the Trust, shall bear such fees. The Sponsor may, at its sole discretion and from time to time, waive all or a portion of the Sponsor Fee for stated periods of time. The Sponsor is under no obligation to waive any portion of its fees and any such waiver shall create no obligation to waive any such fees during any period not covered by the waiver.

*Routine Operational, Administrative and Other Ordinary Expenses*

As partial consideration for its receipt of the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor is obligated under the Trust Agreement to assume and pay all fees and other expenses incurred by the Trust in the ordinary course of its affairs, excluding taxes, but including: (i) the fees of the Trust's third-party service providers including, but not limited to, the Distributor, the Administrator, the Custodian, the Cash Custodian, the Transfer Agent, the Index Provider, and the Trustee, (ii) the fees and expenses related to the listing, quotation or trading of the Shares on the Exchange (including customary legal, marketing and audit fees and expenses), (iii) legal fees and expenses incurred in the ordinary course, (iv) audit fees, (v) regulatory fees, including, if applicable, any fees relating to the registration of the Trust and Shares, including any ongoing filings related to the offering of Shares, under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, (vi) printing and mailing costs, (vii) costs of maintaining the Trust's website and (viii) applicable license fees (each, a "Sponsor-paid Expense" and collectively, the "Sponsor-paid Expenses"), provided that any expense that qualifies as an Extraordinary Expense (as defined below) will not be deemed to be a Sponsor-paid Expense. There is no cap on the amount of Sponsor-paid Expenses. The Sponsor has also assumed all fees and expenses related to the organization and offering of the Trust and the Shares.

*Non Recurring Fees and Expenses*

The Trust may incur certain extraordinary, nonrecurring expenses that are not Sponsor-paid Expenses, including, but not limited to, brokerage and transaction costs associated with the sale or transfer of ether, taxes and governmental charges, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust, the Trust's assets, or the interests of Shareholders, any indemnification of the Custodian or other agents, service providers or counterparties of the Trust, and extraordinary legal fees and expenses, including any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters (collectively, "Extraordinary Expenses"). To the extent on-chain transaction fees are incurred in connection with transfers or sales of ether to pay Extraordinary Expenses, the Trust will bear such fees.

To the extent it does not have cash readily available, the Sponsor shall cause the transfer or sale of ether in such quantity as may be necessary to permit the payment of Trust expenses and liabilities not assumed by the Sponsor or for payment of redemption proceeds to Authorized Participants. The Trust will not bear any costs associated with the transfer or sale of ether to pay the Sponsor Fee. To the extent the Trust incurs any Extraordinary Expenses, the Trust will bear the costs of any transfers or sales of ether to pay such expenses. The Trust will seek to transfer ether at such times and in the smallest amounts required to permit such payments as they become due. With respect to transfers or sales necessary to pay Trust expenses and liabilities that are denominated other than in ether, the amount of ether transferred or sold may vary from time to time depending on the actual sales price of ether relative to the Trust's expenses and liabilities (e.g., if the price of ether falls, the amount of ether needed to be transferred or sold to pay an expense denominated in U.S. dollars will increase). To the extent the Trust must buy or sell ether, the Trust may do so through a third-party digital asset broker or dealer. When the Trust buys or sells ether, the Sponsor seeks quotes from its ether trading counterparties. Such transactions are typically conducted over the counter rather than over a trading platform or similar order matching service. The Sponsor will select third party brokers or dealers that it believes have implemented adequate anti-money laundering, know-your-customer and other legal compliance policies and procedures.

Under the terms of each Authorized Participant Agreement, the Authorized Participants will be responsible for any brokerage or transaction costs associated with the sale or transfer of ether incurred in connection with the fulfillment of a creation or redemption order.

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**Creation and Redemption of Shares**

The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets. Baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of ether or cash represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed (the "Basket Deposit"). The amount of ether required in a Basket Deposit (the "Basket Ether Deposit") and the amount of cash required in a Basket Deposit (the "Basket Cash Deposit") are based on the quantity or value of the quantity, as applicable, of ether or cash attributable to each Share of the Trust (net of accrued but unpaid Sponsor Fees and any accrued but unpaid Extraordinary Expenses) being created or redeemed determined as of 4:00 p.m. EST on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.

Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants must be (1) registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions, which are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions described below and (2) direct participants ("DTC Participants") in the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). To become an Authorized Participant, a person must enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor. As of the Trust's commencement of operations, Baskets may only be purchased or redeemed by Authorized Participants for ether or cash.

In connection with a Cash Creation Order (as defined below) or Cash Redemption Order (as defined below), an Authorized Participant is responsible for any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfers fees, network fees and stamp taxes (the "Transaction Fee"). The Transaction Fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Trust or the Sponsor, and no such person will have any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.

Certain Authorized Participants and their agents and affiliates are expected to be capable of participating directly in the spot markets. Some Authorized Participants or their agents and affiliates may from time to time buy or sell ether and may profit in these instances. To the extent that the activities of Authorized Participants or their agents and affiliates have a meaningful effect on the ether market, it could affect the price of ether and impact the ability of the Authorized Participants to effectively arbitrage the difference between the price at which the shares trade and the NAV of the Trust. While the Sponsor currently expects that Authorized Participants' and their agents' and affiliates' direct activities in the ether or securities markets in connection with the creation and redemption activities of the Trust will not significantly affect the price of ether or the Shares, the impact of the activities of the Trust and its Authorized Participants and their agents and affiliates on ether or securities markets is unknown and beyond the control of the Sponsor.

Each Authorized Participant will be required to be registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and a member in good standing with FINRA, or exempt from being or otherwise not required to be licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and will be qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. Certain Authorized Participants may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Participant has its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.

The following description of the procedures for the creation and redemption of Baskets is only a summary and a Shareholder should refer to the form of Authorized Participant Agreement for more detail, which is attached to this Annual Report as an exhibit.

*Creation Procedures*

On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to create one or more Baskets. For purposes of processing creation and redemption orders, a "business day" means any day other than a day when the Exchange is closed for regular trading. Purchase orders must be placed by the close of Regular Trading Hours on the Exchange or an earlier time as determined and communicated by the Sponsor and its agent. A purchase order will be effective on the date it is received in good order by the Transfer Agent ("Purchase Order Date").

The manner by which creations are made is dictated by the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement. Creation orders may be denominated and settled in an amount of ether ("In-Kind Creation Order") or cash ("Cash Creation Order"). By placing an In-Kind Creation Order, an Authorized Participant agrees to facilitate the deposit of ether with the Custodian, either directly or indirectly through an Authorized Participant Designee. By placing a Cash Creation Order, an Authorized Participant agrees to facilitate the deposit of cash with the Cash Custodian. An Authorized Participant may not withdraw a creation order without the prior consent of the Sponsor in its discretion.

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Following an In-Kind Creation Order from an Authorized Participant, the Trust's account at the Custodian must be credited with the required ether by 11:00 a.m. EST on the following business day or such other time designated by the Sponsor. The Authorized Participant or its Authorized Participant Designee will normally send the required ether in an "on chain" transaction over the Ethereum network. Such on chain transactions are subject to the risks associated with Ethereum network transactions, including the irreversibility of transactions made in error or unavoidable delays due to Ethereum network congestion. Upon receipt of the Basket Ether Deposit amount in the Trust's account at the Custodian, the Administrator will notify the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will then direct DTC to credit the number of Shares created to the Authorized Participant's DTC account.

Following an Authorized Participant's Cash Creation Order, the Trust's account at the Cash Custodian must be credited with the Basket Cash Deposit amount by 11:00 a.m. EST on the following business day or such other time designated by the Sponsor. Upon receipt of the Basket Cash Deposit amount in the Trust's account at the Cash Custodian, the Transfer Agent will notify the Distributor, the Authorized Participant, and the Sponsor that the Basket Cash Amount has been deposited. The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, will instruct an ether trading counterparty to purchase the amount of ether equivalent in value to the cash deposit amount associated with the creation order, with such purchase transaction prearranged to be executed, in the Sponsor's reasonable efforts, at the Index price used by the Trust to calculate NAV, taking into account any spread, commissions, or other trading costs on the applicable Purchase Order Date. The resulting ether will be deposited in the Trust's account with the Ether Custodian. Any slippage incurred (including, but not limited to, any trading fees, spreads, or commissions), on a cash equivalent basis, will be the responsibility of the Authorized Participant and not of the Trust or Sponsor. To the extent the execution price of the ether acquired by the trading counterparty exceeds the cash deposit amount, such cash difference will be the responsibility of the Authorized Participant and not the Trust or Sponsor. The Transfer Agent will then direct DTC to credit the number of Shares created to the Authorized Participant's DTC account.

The Trust has entered into agreements with each of A1, Ltd., Cumberland DRW LLC, Flow Traders B.V., Galaxy Digital Trading Cayman LLC, JSCT, LLC, Virtu Financial Singapore Pte. Ltd., and Wintermute Trading Ltd to serve as an ether trading counterparty to the Trust. JSCT, LLC is an affiliate of Jane Street Capital LLC and Virtu Financial Singapore Pte. Ltd. is an affiliate of Virtu Americas LLC. Each of Jane Street Capital LLC and Virtu Americas LLC is an Authorized Participant. The Sponsor is not aware of, nor has it requested any information relating to, any other affiliation or material relationship between such ether trading counterparties and the Authorized Participants or other service providers of the Trust in executing a transaction in ether with the Trust. The agreements with the ether trading counterparties provide that once the Sponsor determines based on its execution procedures which counterparty to execute a trade with and the Sponsor has placed a trade with a specific counterparty, that counterparty is contractually obligated to settle that trade. Each of these third parties are, and any other trading counterparty the Trust places orders with will be, subject to U.S. federal and/or state licensing requirements or similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions and maintain practices and policies designed to comply with AML and KYC regulations or similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

*Determination of Required Deposits*

The amount of the Basket Deposit changes from day to day. On each day that the Exchange is open for regular trading, the Administrator adjusts the quantity of ether or cash constituting the Basket Deposit as appropriate to reflect the value of the Trust's ether and cash less accrued expenses. The computation is made by the Administrator as promptly as practicable after 4:00 p.m. EST or at an earlier time set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement or otherwise provided to all Authorized Participants on the date such order is placed in order for the creation of Baskets to be effected based on the NAV of Shares as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form.

The Basket Ether Deposit for a given day is determined by dividing the number of ether held by the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, adjusted for the amount of ether constituting accrued expenses and other liabilities of the Trust as of the opening of business on that business day, by the number of Shares outstanding at the opening of business and multiplying such amount by the number of Shares constituting a Basket. Fractions of ether smaller than .00000001 are disregarded for purposes of the computation of the Basket Ether Deposit.

The Basket Cash Deposit is an amount of cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of the Trust, net of accrued expenses and other liabilities, on the Purchase Order Date, as the number of Shares constituting a Basket is in proportion to the total number of Shares outstanding on the Purchase Order Date, plus the amount of any Transaction Fee. For a discussion of how the Trust determines the value of ether, see "[*<u>Calculation of Net Asset Value</u>*](#calculation_of_nav)" above. The Basket Cash Deposit so determined is communicated via electronic mail message to all Authorized Participants.

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To the extent the price at which the Trust executes an ether purchase in connection with a Cash Creation exceeds the amount described in the paragraph above, the Authorized Participant that placed such order will be responsible for any such difference in price. The Sponsor expects that its ether trading counterparties will be able to provide pricing based on the Index price at 4:00 p.m. EST, which would minimize or eliminate any such shortfall. However, there can be no guarantee that the price at which the Trust executes ether trades will be the Index price at 4:00 p.m. EST, and Authorized Participants bear the risk of any such differences in price.

*Delivery of Required Deposits*

An Authorized Participant who places a purchase order must follow the procedures outlined in the "Creation Procedures" as summarized above and further described in the Trust's registration statement. Upon receipt of the deposit amount by the Custodian or the Cash Custodian, as applicable, the Transfer Agent will direct DTC to credit the number of Shares ordered to the Authorized Participant's DTC account on the following business day or such later time as may be agreed upon by the Authorized Participant and the Sponsor, following the Purchase Order Date. The Sponsor has the authority to set or modify the cut-off time for purchase orders in order for the creation of Baskets to be effected based on the Index price at 4:00 p.m. EST as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. For example, the Sponsor may modify the cut-off time in the event of an early market close, perceived capacity constraints from the Trust's ether trading counterparties, or highly volatile markets. Cut-off times are communicated periodically to Authorized Participants. In circumstances where purchase orders are due before 4:00 p.m. EST, Authorized Participants will not know the total Basket Deposit at the time they submit a purchase order for the Basket. The Trust's NAV and the price of a Basket Deposit could rise or fall substantially between the time a purchase order is submitted and the time the amount of the purchase price in respect thereof is determined, and the risk of such price movements will be borne solely by the Authorized Participant. In the event an Authorized Participant or its Authorized Participant Designee fails to deliver a Basket Ether Deposit pursuant to an In-Kind Creation Order, such In-Kind Creation Order may, in the Sponsor's sole discretion, be converted to a Cash Creation Order and subject to the procedures applicable to Cash Creation Orders described herein. If an Authorized Participant fails to consummate a Cash Creation Order, such order will be cancelled or delayed until the full deposit has been received.

*Rejection of Purchase Orders*

The Sponsor or its designee has the absolute right, but does not have any obligation, to reject any purchase order or Basket Deposit for any reason, including if the Sponsor determines that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a)the purchase order is not in proper form;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b)the Basket Deposit delivered is not as specified by the Trust through the Sponsor and/or Transfer Agent, and the Sponsor has not consented to acceptance of an in-kind deposit that varies from the designated portfolio;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c)the acceptance of the Basket Deposit would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Trust;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d)the acceptance of the Basket Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e)the acceptance of the Basket Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Sponsor, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners of the Trust;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;f)the value of Baskets to be created exceeds a purchase authorization limit afforded to the Authorized Participant by the Trust, and the Authorized Participant has not deposited an amount in excess of such purchase authorization with the Custodian prior to the designated cut-off time; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;g)there exist circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Transfer Agent, or the Sponsor that make it impossible to process purchase orders for all practical purposes.

The Sponsor may in its sole discretion limit the number of Shares created pursuant to purchase orders on any specified day without notice to the Authorized Participants and may direct the Distributor to reject any purchase orders in excess of such capped amount. The Sponsor may choose to limit the number of Shares created pursuant to purchase orders when it deems so doing to be in the best interest of Shareholders. It may choose to do so when it believes the market is too volatile to execute an ether transaction, when it believes the price of ether is being inconsistently, irregularly, or discontinuously published from ether trading venues and other data sources, or when it believes other similar circumstances may create a scenario in which accepting purchase orders would not be in the best interests of the Shareholders. The Sponsor does not believe that the Trust's ability to arrive at such a determination will have a significant impact on the Shares in the secondary market because it believes that the ability to create Shares would be reinstated shortly after such determination is made, and any entity desiring to create Shares would be able to do so once the ability to create Shares is reinstated. However, it is possible that such a determination would cause the Shares to trade at premiums or discounts relative to the Trust's NAV on the secondary market if arbitrageurs believe that there is risk that the creation and redemption process is not available, as this process is a component of keeping the price of the Shares on the secondary market closely aligned to the Trust's NAV.

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Neither the Sponsor, nor the Transfer Agent, nor the Trust will be liable for the rejection of any purchase order or Basket Deposit.

*Redemption Procedures*

The procedures by which an Authorized Participant can redeem one or more Baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of Baskets with an additional safeguard on ether being removed from the Ether Account at the Custodian. On any business day, an Authorized Participant may place an order with the Transfer Agent to redeem one or more Baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by the close of Regular Trading Hours on the Exchange or an earlier time as determined and communicated by the Sponsor and its agent. A redemption order will be effective on the date it is received by the Transfer Agent ("Redemption Order Date").

The manner by which redemptions are made is dictated by the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement. Redemption orders are denominated and settled either in kind ("In-Kind Redemption Order") or in cash ("Cash Redemption Order"). By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to facilitate the deposit of Shares with the Transfer Agent. If an Authorized Participant fails to consummate the foregoing, the order will be cancelled or delayed until the required Shares have been received. An Authorized Participant may not withdraw a redemption order without the prior consent of the Sponsor in its discretion.

In the case of an In-Kind Redemption Order, the redemption distribution from the Trust consists of a movement of ether to the Authorized Participant, or its Authorized Participant Designee, representing the amount of ether held by the Trust, net of accrued expenses and other liabilities, evidenced by the Shares being redeemed on the Redemption Order Date. In the case of a Cash Redemption Order, the redemption distribution from the Trust consists of a transfer to the Authorized Participant of an amount of cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of the Trust, net of accrued expenses and other liabilities, on the Redemption Order Date, as the number of Shares to be redeemed under the purchase order is in proportion to the total number of Shares outstanding on the Redemption Order Date. With respect to either an In-Kind Redemption Order or Cash Redemption Order, the redemption distribution due from the Trust will be delivered once the Transfer Agent notifies the Cash Custodian, the Administrator, the Distributor and the Sponsor that the Authorized Participant has delivered the Shares represented by the Baskets to be redeemed to the Transfer Agent's DTC account. If the Transfer Agent's DTC account has not been credited with all of the Shares of the Baskets to be redeemed, the redemption distribution will be cancelled or delayed until such time as the Transfer Agent confirms receipt of all such Shares.

By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the Baskets to be redeemed through DTC's book-entry system to the Trust by the end of the following business day or such time as may be agreed upon by the Authorized Participant and the Sponsor following the Redemption Order Date. An Authorized Participant may not withdraw a redemption order without the prior consent of the Sponsor in its discretion.

*Determination of Redemption Distribution*

The redemption distribution from the Trust will consist of a transfer to the redeeming Authorized Participant or its Authorized Participant Designee of an amount of either ether (in the case of an In-Kind Redemption Order) or cash (in the case of a Cash Redemption Order) that is determined in the same manner as the determination of Basket Deposits discussed above.

*Delivery of Redemption Distribution*

The Transfer Agent notifies the Administrator, the Cash Custodian, the Distributor and the Sponsor that the Shares have been received in the Transfer Agent's DTC account. For an In-Kind Redemption Order, the Sponsor will transfer the redemption ether amount from the Custodian to the designated wallet address of the Authorized Participant or its Authorized Participant Designee. For a Cash Redemption Order, the redemption distribution due from the Trust will be sent by the Cash Custodian, to the Authorized Participant on the following business day or such time as may be agreed upon by the Authorized Participant and the Sponsor, following the Redemption Order Date if, by 4:00 p.m. EST, on such business day, the Transfer Agent's DTC account has been credited with the Baskets to be redeemed. If the Transfer Agent's DTC account has not been credited with all of the Baskets to be redeemed by such time, the redemption distribution will be cancelled or delayed until such time as the Transfer Agent confirms receipt of all such Shares.

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*Rejection of Redemption Orders*

Redemption orders must be made in whole Baskets. The Distributor acting by itself or through the person authorized to take redemption orders in the manner provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement may, in its sole discretion, reject any redemption order (1) the Sponsor determines not to be in proper form or (2) if requested by the Distributor, the Authorized Participant fails to deliver or execute supporting documentation evidencing ownership or the Authorized Participant's right to deliver sufficient Shares.

*Suspension of Orders*

The Sponsor may, in its discretion, suspend redemption or creation transactions during any period when the transfer books of the Transfer Agent are closed or if circumstances outside the control of the Sponsor or its delegate make it for all practicable purposes not feasible to process Redemption Orders or for any other reason at any time or from time to time. For example, the Sponsor may determine that it is necessary to suspend redemptions to allow for the orderly liquidation of the Trust's assets. If the Sponsor has difficulty liquidating the Trust's positions, e.g., because of a market disruption event or an unanticipated delay in the liquidation of a position in an over-the-counter contract, it may be appropriate to suspend creations and redemptions until such time as such circumstances are rectified. Neither the Distributor, the person authorized to take redemption orders in the manner provided in the Authorized Participant Agreement, nor the Custodian will be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement. Any such suspension may cause the price of the Shares to deviate more significantly from the Trust's NAV per Share than would be the case if such suspension had not occurred. The Trust will notify Shareholders of any such suspension in a prospectus supplement and/or a current report on Form 8-K or in its annual or quarterly reports.

*Creation and Redemption Transaction Fees*

In connection with a Creation Order or Redemption Order, an Authorized Participant is responsible for the Transaction Fee, which consists of the operational processing and brokerage costs, transfers fees, network fees and stamp taxes. The Transaction Fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the Sponsor.

*Tax Responsibility*

Authorized Participants are responsible for any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax or similar tax or governmental charge applicable to the creation or redemption of baskets, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Participant, and agree to indemnify the Sponsor and the Trust if they are required by law to pay any such tax, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax and interest thereon.

*Secondary Market Transactions*

As noted, the Trust will create and redeem Shares from time to time, but only in one or more Baskets. The creation and redemption of baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of ether or cash equal to the number of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.

As discussed above, Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets. Authorized Participants must be registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions. An Authorized Participant is under no obligation to create or redeem Baskets, and an Authorized Participant is under no obligation to offer to the public Shares of any Baskets it does create.

Authorized Participants that do offer to the public Shares from the Baskets they create will do so at per-Share offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the Shares on the Exchange, the NAV of the Trust at the time the Authorized Participant purchased the Baskets, the NAV of the Shares at the time of the offer of the Shares to the public, the supply of and demand for Shares at the time of sale, and the liquidity of ether. Baskets are generally redeemed when the price per Share is at a discount to the NAV per Share. Shares initially comprising the same basket but offered by Authorized Participants to the public at different times may have different offering prices. An order for one or more Baskets may be placed by an Authorized Participant on behalf of multiple clients. Authorized Participants who make deposits with the Trust in exchange for Baskets receive no fees, commissions or other forms of compensation or inducement of any kind from either the Trust or the Sponsor and no such person has any obligation or responsibility to the Sponsor or the Trust to effect any sale or resale of Shares.

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Shares are expected to trade in the secondary market on the Exchange. Shares may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to their NAV per Share. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per Share may be influenced by various factors, including the number of Shareholders who seek to purchase or sell Shares in the secondary market and the liquidity of ether.

*Selling Commission*

Retail investors may purchase and sell Shares through traditional brokerage accounts. Investors are expected to be charged a customary commission by their brokers in connection with purchases of Shares that will vary from investor to investor. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage accounts for applicable charges. The price at which an Authorized Participant sells a Share may be higher or lower than the price paid by such Authorized Participant in connection with the creation of such Share in a Creation Unit.

**Employees**

The Trust has no employees.

**United States Federal Income Tax Consequences**

The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences associated with the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares by a U.S. Shareholder (as defined below), and certain U.S. federal income consequences that may apply to an investment in Shares by a Non-U.S. Shareholder (as defined below). The discussion below is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative interpretations of the Code, all as in effect on the date of this Annual Report and all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. The tax treatment of Shareholders may vary depending upon their own particular circumstances. Except where noted, this discussion only deals with Shares held as capital assets (generally, property held for investment), and does not address special situations, including those of banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, dealers in securities, currencies, or commodities, tax-exempt organizations, tax-exempt or tax-advantaged retirement plans or accounts, traders using a mark-to-market method of accounting, entities that are partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, persons holding Shares as a position in a "hedging," "straddle," "conversion," "constructive sale" or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, persons whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar, persons required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the Shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement, or persons subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Moreover, the discussion below does not address the effect of any state, local or foreign tax law consequences that may apply to an investment in Shares. Purchasers of Shares are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to all federal, state, local and foreign tax law considerations potentially applicable to their investment in Shares.

For purposes of this discussion, a "U.S. Shareholder" is a Shareholder that is:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•an individual who is treated as a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

If a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Shares, the tax treatment of a partner generally depends upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding Shares, the discussion below may not be applicable and we urge you to consult your own tax adviser for the U.S. federal income tax implications of the purchase, ownership and disposition of such Shares.

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*Taxation of the Trust*

The Sponsor and the Trustee will treat the Trust as a "grantor trust" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Assuming that the Trust is a grantor trust (and the following discussion assumes such classification), the Trust itself should not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Instead, the Trust's income and expenses should "flow through" to the Shareholders, and the Trustee will report to Shareholders and the IRS on that basis.

*Taxation of U.S. Shareholders*

Each Shareholder will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as if it directly owned a pro rata share of the underlying assets held in the Trust. A Shareholder also will be treated as if it directly received its respective pro rata share of the Trust's income, if any, and as if it directly incurred its respective pro rata share of the Trust's expenses, subject to some specialized allocation rules for widely held fixed investment trusts. In the case of a Shareholder that acquires Shares as part of the creation of a Basket in cash, the delivery of cash to the Trust in exchange for a pro rata share of the underlying ether represented by the Shares and the additional ether purchased with the cash will not be a taxable event to the Shareholder, and the Shareholder's tax basis and holding period for the Shareholder's pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust will be based upon the amount of cash contributed and the date that the Trust purchased the ether with the cash. In the case of a Shareholder that acquires Shares as part of the creation of a Basket in kind, the delivery of ether to the Trust in exchange for a pro rata share of the underlying ether represented by the Shares will not be a taxable event to the Shareholder, and the Shareholder's tax basis and holding period for the Shareholder's pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust will be the same as its tax basis and holding period for the ether delivered in exchange therefor. For purposes of this discussion, and unless stated otherwise, it is assumed that all of a Shareholder's Shares are acquired on the same date and at the same price per Share. Shareholders that hold multiple lots of Shares, or that are contemplating acquiring multiple lots of Shares, should consult their own tax advisers as to the determination of the tax basis and holding period for the underlying ether related to such Shares.

Current IRS guidance on the treatment of convertible virtual currencies classifies ether as "property" that is not currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes and clarifies that ether can be held as a capital asset, but it does not address several other aspects of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of ether. Because ether is a new technological innovation, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of ether or transactions relating to investments in ether may evolve and change from that discussed below, possibly with retroactive effect. In this regard, the IRS has indicated that it has made it a priority to issue additional guidance related to the taxation of virtual currency transactions, such as transactions involving ether. While the IRS has started to issue such additional guidance, whether any future guidance will adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in ether or in transactions relating to investments in ether is unknown. Moreover, future developments that may arise with respect to digital currencies may increase the uncertainty with respect to the treatment of digital currencies for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The Trust expects to sell or use ether to pay certain expenses of the Trust or to fund cash redemptions if and when applicable. If the Trust sells ether (for example to generate cash to pay fees or expenses) or is treated as selling ether (for example by using ether to pay fees or expenses), a Shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the Shareholder's pro rata share of the amount realized by the Trust upon the sale and (b) the Shareholder's tax basis for its pro rata share of the ether that was sold. A Shareholder's tax basis for its share of any ether sold by the Trust will generally be a pro rata portion of the Shareholder's total tax basis for its share of all of the ether held in the Trust. After any such sale, a Shareholder's tax basis for its pro rata share of the ether remaining in the Trust should be equal to its tax basis for its share of the total amount of the ether held in the Trust immediately prior to the sale less the portion of such basis allocable to its share of the ether that was sold.

Upon a Shareholder's sale of some or all of its Shares, the Shareholder will be treated as having sold the pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust at the time of the sale that is attributable to the Shares sold. Accordingly, the Shareholder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the amount realized pursuant to the sale of the Shares, and (b) the Shareholder's tax basis for the pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust at the time of sale that is attributable to the Shares sold, as determined in the manner described in the preceding paragraph. A selling Shareholder may recognize additional gain or loss when the Trust sells or disposes of ether, as described above, attributable to the portion of the year the Shares were held. Based on current IRS guidance, such gain or loss on the sale of Shares (as well as any gain or loss realized by a Shareholder on account of the Trust selling ether) will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the Shareholder has a holding period of greater than one year in its pro rata share of the ether that was sold and otherwise will be short-term capital gain or loss.

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Sales of ether to fund cash redemptions are expected to result in gains and losses with such gains and losses expected to be treated as incurred by the Shareholder that is being redeemed. These gains or losses generally would equal the difference between the amount realized from the sale of the ether and the Shareholder's tax basis for the portion of the Shareholder's pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust that is sold to fund the redemption, as determined in the manner described above. A redemption of some or all of a Shareholder's Shares in exchange for the cash received from such sale is not expected to be treated as a separate taxable event for the Shareholder.

If permitted, Authorized Participants may request an in-kind distribution of Trust assets when an Authorized Participant redeems its Shares at any time prior to 30 business days before the Trust's termination date. An Authorized Participant will not recognize gain or loss if the Authorized Participant only receives whole Trust assets in exchange for the identical amount of the Authorized Participant's pro rata portion of the same Trust assets held by the Trust. However, if the Authorized Participant is acting on its own behalf and also receives cash in exchange for a Trust asset or a fractional portion of a Trust asset, the Authorized Participant will generally recognize gain or loss based on the difference between the amount of cash received and the Authorized Participant's tax basis in such Trust asset or fractional portion.

A redemption of some or all of a Shareholder's Shares in exchange for the underlying ether represented by the Shares redeemed generally will not be a taxable event to the Shareholder. The Shareholder's tax basis and holding period for the ether received in the redemption generally will be the same as the Shareholder's tax basis and holding period for the pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust immediately prior to the redemption that is attributable to the Shares redeemed. A Shareholder's tax basis for ether received in a redemption generally will be the same as the Shareholder's tax basis for the portion of the Shareholder's pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust immediately prior to the redemption that is attributable to the Shares redeemed. The Shareholder's holding period for the ether received generally will include the period during which the Shareholder held the Shares being redeemed. A subsequent sale of the ether received the Shareholder generally will be a taxable event

After any sale or redemption of less than all of a Shareholder's Shares, the Shareholder's tax basis for its pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust immediately after such sale or redemption generally will be equal to its tax basis in its share of the total amount of the ether held in the Trust immediately prior to the sale or redemption, less the portion of such basis which is taken into account in determining the amount of gain or loss recognized by the Shareholder upon such sale or cash redemption or, in the case of an in-kind redemption for ether, that is treated as the basis of the ether received by the Shareholder in the redemption.

Except for cash temporarily held to pay Trust expenses, to facilitate redemption transactions, or received in creation transactions, the Trust will only invest in ether. In the event of a fork, the Sponsor will cause the Trust to irrevocably abandon any digital asset resulting from a fork in the Ethereum network (other than what the Sponsor determines to be ether). If the Trust were to change this policy, the Trust would need to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust's registration statement and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules. If, despite such abandonment, the Trust were to receive any digital asset resulting from a fork in the Ethereum network (other than what the Sponsor determines to be ether), the Trust Agreement requires the Sponsor to cause the forked asset to be sold and have the proceeds distributed to the Shareholders. The sale of a forked asset received by the Trust will give rise to gain or loss, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if the amount realized on the sale differs from the value of the new forked asset at the time it was received by the Trust. A hard fork may therefore give rise to additional tax liabilities for Shareholders.

*3.8% Tax on Net Investment Income*

Certain U.S. Shareholders, who are individuals, are required to pay a 3.8% tax on the lesser of the excess of their modified adjusted gross income over a threshold amount ($250,000 for married persons filing jointly and $200,000 for single taxpayers) or their "net investment income," which generally includes capital gains from the disposition of property. This tax is in addition to any capital gains taxes due on such investment income. A similar tax applies to estates and trusts. U.S. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, this tax may have on their investment in the Shares.

*Brokerage Fees and Trust Expenses*

Any brokerage or other transaction fee incurred by a Shareholder in purchasing Shares will be treated as part of the Shareholder's tax basis in the underlying assets of the Trust. Similarly, any brokerage fee incurred by a Shareholder in selling Shares will reduce the amount realized by the Shareholder with respect to the sale. Shareholders will be required to recognize the full amount of gain or loss upon a sale or deemed sale of ether by the Trust (as discussed above), even though some or all of the proceeds of such sale are used by the Trustee to pay Trust expenses.

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Shareholders may deduct their respective pro rata shares of each expense incurred by the Trust to the same extent as if they directly incurred the expense. However, most trust expenses are expected to result in miscellaneous itemized deductions, and noncorporate taxpayers generally are not allowed any deduction with respect to miscellaneous itemized deductions for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, noncorporate taxpayers may deduct certain miscellaneous itemized deductions only to the extent they exceed in the aggregate 2% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income.

*Investment by Certain Retirement Plans*

Individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and participant-directed accounts under tax-qualified retirement plans are limited in the types of investments they may make under the Code. Potential purchasers of Shares that are IRAs or participant-directed accounts under a Code section 401(a) plan should consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a purchase of Shares.

*United States Information Reporting and Backup Withholding; Tax Return Reporting for Cryptocurrency*

The Trustee will file certain information returns with the IRS, and provide certain tax-related information to Shareholders, in connection with the Trust. To the extent required by applicable regulations, each Shareholder will be provided with information regarding its allocable portion of the Trust's annual income, expenses, gains and losses (if any). A U.S. Shareholder may be subject to United States backup withholding tax in certain circumstances unless it provides its taxpayer identification number and complies with certain certification procedures. Non-U.S. Shareholders may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that they are not a United States person, and some Non-U.S. Shareholders may be required to meet certain information reporting or certification requirements imposed by Code requirements popularly referred to as "FATCA" in order to avoid certain information reporting and withholding tax requirements.

The amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a Shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

Individual U.S. Shareholders will be required to report on their federal income tax return the receipt, acquisition, sale, or exchange of any financial interest in virtual currency, which includes a Shareholder's interest in ether held by the Trust.

*Taxation of Authorized Participants*

If an Authorized Participant invests in the Trust on its own behalf, the Authorized Participant will generally recognize income, gain, loss or deduction as described for U.S. Shareholders. If an Authorized Participant is acting as agent for one or more other persons, who are the beneficial owners of the Shares, the Authorized Participant will be obligated to issue an information statement to the beneficial owners, who will recognize the consequences described above for U.S. Shareholders.

*Taxation in Jurisdictions Other Than the United States*

Prospective purchasers of Shares that are based in or acting out of a jurisdiction other than the United States are advised to consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences under the laws of such jurisdiction (or any other jurisdiction other than the United States in which they are subject to taxation) of their purchase, holding, sale and redemption of or any other dealing in Shares and, in particular, as to whether any value added tax, other consumption tax or transfer tax is payable in relation to such purchase, holding, sale, redemption or other dealing.

**The foregoing is only a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences associated with the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares by a U.S. Shareholder. Each prospective Shareholder should consult the Shareholder's own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax considerations relevant to an investment in Shares in the Shareholder's particular tax situation.**

**PROSPECTIVE SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR LEGAL AND TAX ADVISERS BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO INVEST IN THE SHARES OF THE TRUST.**

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**Purchases by Employee Benefit Plans**

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and/or Section 4975 of the Code impose certain requirements on: (i) employee benefit plans and certain other plans and arrangements, including individual retirement accounts and annuities, Keogh plans and certain collective investment funds or insurance company general or separate accounts in which such plans or arrangements are invested, that are subject to Title I of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code (collectively, "Plans"); and (ii) persons who are fiduciaries with respect to the investment of assets treated as "plan assets" within the meaning of U.S. Department of Labor (the "DOL") regulation 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA (the "Plan Assets Regulation"), of a Plan. Investments by Plans are subject to the fiduciary requirements and the applicability of prohibited transaction restrictions under ERISA and the Code. It is anticipated that the Shares will constitute "publicly-held offered securities" as defined in the Department of Labor Regulations § 2510.3-101(b)(2). Accordingly, Shares purchased by a Plan, and not the Plan's interest in the underlying ether held in the Trust represented by the Shares, should be treated as assets of the Plan, for purposes of applying the "fiduciary responsibility" and "prohibited transaction" rules of ERISA and the Code.

"Governmental plans" within the meaning of Section 3(32) of ERISA, certain "church plans" within the meaning of Section 3(33) of ERISA and "non-U.S. plans" described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, while not subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, may be subject to any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other law or regulation that is substantially similar to the foregoing provisions of ERISA and the Code. Fiduciaries of any such plans are advised to consult with their counsel prior to an investment in the Shares.

In contemplating an investment of a portion of Plan assets in the Shares, the Plan fiduciary responsible for making such investment should carefully consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the Plan, Risk Factors and whether such investment is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities. The Plan fiduciary should consider, among other issues, whether: (1) the fiduciary has the authority to make the investment under the appropriate governing plan instrument; (2) the investment would constitute a direct or indirect non-exempt prohibited transaction with a "party in interest" or "disqualified person" within the meaning of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code respectively; (3) the investment is in accordance with the Plan's funding objectives; and (4) such investment is appropriate for the Plan under the general fiduciary standards of investment prudence and diversification, taking into account the overall investment policy of the Plan, the composition of the Plan's investment portfolio and the Plan's need for sufficient liquidity to pay benefits when due. When evaluating the prudence of an investment in the Shares, the Plan fiduciary should consider the DOL's regulation on investment duties, which can be found at 29 C.F.R. § 2550.404a-1.

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**Item 1A. Risk Factors.**

**Risk Factors Related to Digital Assets**

***The trading prices of many digital assets, including ether, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading prices of ether, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value.***

The trading prices of many digital assets, including ether, have experienced extreme volatility in recent periods and may continue to do so. For instance, there were steep increases in the value of certain digital assets, including ether, over the course of 2017, followed by steep drawdowns throughout 2018 in digital asset trading prices, including for ether. These drawdowns notwithstanding, digital asset prices, including ether, increased significantly again during 2019, decreased significantly again in the first quarter of 2020 and increased significantly again over the remainder of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021 and continuing to date, digital asset prices have fluctuated widely.

Extreme volatility in the future, including further declines in the trading prices of ether, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value. Furthermore, negative perception, a lack of stability and standardized regulation in the digital asset economy may reduce confidence in the digital asset economy and may result in greater volatility in the price of ether and other digital assets, including a depreciation in value. The Trust is not actively managed and will not take any actions to take advantage, or mitigate the impacts, of volatility in the price of ether.

***Digital assets such as ether are a relatively new asset class, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies and to the fundamental investment characteristics of digital assets.***

Digital assets such as ether are a relatively new asset class, and the medium-to-long term value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the capabilities and development of blockchain technologies, such as the recentness of their development, their dependence on the internet and other technologies, usership, developers and node operators (as described below) and the potential for malicious activity. For example, the realization of one or more of the following risks could materially adversely affect the value of the Shares:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network, and the software used to operate them are in the early stages of development. Given the recentness of the development of blockchain networks, their associated digital assets may not function as intended and, in turn, parties may be unwilling to use digital assets, which would dampen the potential growth of blockchain networks. Because ether is a digital asset, the value of the Shares is subject to a number of factors relating to the fundamental investment characteristics of digital assets, including the fact that digital assets are bearer instruments and loss, theft, compromise, or destruction of the associated private keys could result in permanent loss of the asset.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Blockchains are dependent upon the internet. A disruption of the internet or a digital asset network, such as the Ethereum network, could affect the ability to transfer digital assets, including ether, and, consequently, their value.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The acceptance of software patches or upgrades by a significant, but not overwhelming, percentage of the node operators in a digital asset network, such as the Ethereum network, could result in a "fork" in such network's blockchain, including the Ethereum blockchain, resulting in the operation of multiple separate networks.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Governance of the Ethereum network is by voluntary consensus and open competition. As a result, there may be a lack of consensus or clarity on the governance of the Ethereum network, which may stymie the Ethereum network's utility and ability to grow and face challenges or serve as a catalyst for a hard fork of the network. In particular, it may be difficult to find solutions or martial sufficient effort to overcome any future problems on the Ethereum network, especially long-term problems.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The foregoing notwithstanding, the Ethereum network's protocol is informally overseen by a collective of core developers who, along with members of the Ethereum community, can introduce proposals, known as Ethereum Improvement Proposals ("EIPs"), for updating the Ethereum network. The core developers evolve over time, largely based on self-determined participation. An Ethereum Client is a software application that implements the Ethereum network specification and communicates with the Ethereum network. A "node" is a computer or other device that has downloaded the Ethereum Client and is connected to other computers also running the Ethereum Client software, together forming the Ethereum network. To the extent that a significant majority of node operators update their individual Ethereum Client to the new specification, the Ethereum network could be subject to new protocols that may adversely affect the value of ether. In addition, if a digital asset network has high-profile contributors, a perception that such contributors will no longer contribute to the network could have an adverse effect on the market price of the related digital asset.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent that any validators cease to process transactions that do not include the payment of a transaction fee in validated blocks, such transactions will not be recorded on the Ethereum blockchain. Any widespread delays in the processing of transactions could result in a loss of confidence in a digital asset network.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Many digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network, face significant scaling challenges and are being upgraded with various features designed to increase the speed of digital asset transactions and the number of transactions that can be processed in a given period (known as "throughput"). These attempts to increase the volume of transactions may not be effective, and such upgrades may fail, resulting in potentially irreparable damage to the Ethereum network and the value of ether. Furthermore, successful improvements to the scalability of digital asset networks often come at the expense of decentralization and/or security.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Moreover, in the past, flaws in the source code for blockchains, their respective native assets, and digital assets they host have been exposed and exploited, including flaws that disabled some functionality for users, exposed users' personal information and/or resulted in the theft of users' digital assets. The cryptography underlying ether could prove to be breakable or ineffective, or developments in mathematics and/or technology, including advances in digital computing, algebraic geometry and quantum computing, could result in such cryptography becoming ineffective. In any of these circumstances, a malicious actor may be able to compromise the security of the Ethereum network or take the Trust's ether, which would adversely affect the value of the Shares. Moreover, functionality of the Ethereum network may be negatively affected such that it is no longer attractive to users, thereby dampening demand for ether. Even if another digital asset other than ether were affected by similar circumstances, any reduction in confidence in the source code or cryptography underlying digital assets generally could negatively affect the demand for digital assets and therefore adversely affect the value of the Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Ethereum network has been in the process of implementing a series of software upgrades and other changes to its protocol, which were previously referred to collectively as "Ethereum 2.0" and some of which were implemented during 2022, such as "the Merge" that transitioned the Ethereum network from a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. These upgrades will result in new iterations of the Ethereum network. Many of the contemplated upgrades to the Ethereum network will include updates to material aspects of its source code. Although some of these upgrades have been successfully implemented, such as "the Merge" and the "Pectra" upgrade, which were completed in September 2022 and May 2025, respectively, there is no guarantee that there are not undiscovered flaws that will emerge in the future even in upgrades previously considered successful, and previously successful upgrades do not guarantee that future upgrades will be successful. Any such undiscovered flaws, or the failure to properly implement future changes, could have a material adverse effect on the value of ether and the value of the Shares. One completed upgrade is known as the "Shanghai" upgrade, which allows users to unstake their ether and remove it from the relevant smart contract. As a result of this or future upgrades, it is possible that significant volumes of currently locked and illiquid ether may become unlocked and sold, which could increase volatility in ether prices or have a material adverse effect on the value of ether and the value of the Shares. Upgrades currently being considered, such as "sharding" or so-called "Layer 2" solutions, could have effects that are difficult to anticipate at this time, but could—if unsuccessfully implemented, or if they contain undiscovered flaws—materially adversely impact or even effectively eliminate the value of ether, and therefore impact the price of the Shares. In addition, the acceptance of software patches or upgrades by a significant, but not overwhelming, percentage of the users and validators in a digital asset network could result in a "fork" in such network's blockchain, resulting in the operation of multiple separate networks. *See "*[*<u>A temporary or permanent "fork" could adversely affect the value of the Shares</u>*](#a_temporary_or_permanent_fork)*"* for additional information.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Ethereum network is still in the process of developing and making significant decisions that will affect policies that govern the supply and issuance of ether as well as other Ethereum network protocols. For example, the Ethereum network has on three separate occasions reduced the quantity of ether rewarded per block and may make additional changes in the future. *See "*[*<u>Ether, Ether Markets and Regulation of Ether</u>*](#ether_markets_and_regulation_of_ether)*"* for additional information. The open-source nature of many digital asset network protocols, such as the protocol for the Ethereum network, means that developers and other contributors are generally not directly compensated for their contributions in maintaining and developing such protocols. As a result, the developers and other contributors of a particular digital asset may lack a financial incentive to maintain or develop the network, or they may lack the resources to adequately address emerging issues. Alternatively, some developers may be funded by companies whose interests are at odds with those of other participants in a particular digital asset network. If the Ethereum network does not successfully develop its policies on supply and issuance, or does so in a manner that is not attractive to network participants, there may not be sufficient network level support for such network, which could lead to a decline in the support and price of ether.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Decentralized application and smart contract developers depend on being able to obtain ether to be able to run their programs and operate their businesses. In particular, decentralized applications and smart contracts require ether in order to pay the gas fees needed to power such applications and smart contracts and execute transactions. Thus, they represent a significant source of demand for ether. Ether's price volatility (particularly where ether prices increase), or the Ethereum network's wider inability to meet the demands of decentralized applications and smart contracts in terms of inexpensive, reliable, and prompt transaction execution (including during congested periods), or to solve its scaling challenges or increase its throughput, may discourage such decentralized application and smart contract developers from using the Ethereum network as the foundational infrastructure layer for building their applications and smart contracts. If decentralized application and smart contract developers abandon the Ethereum blockchain for other blockchain or digital asset networks or protocols for whatever reason, the value of ether could be negatively affected.

Moreover, because digital assets, including ether, have been in existence for a relatively short period of time and are continuing to develop, there may be additional risks in the future that are impossible to predict as of the date of this Annual Report.

***Digital assets represent a new and rapidly evolving industry, and the value of the Shares depends on the acceptance of ether.***

The first digital asset, bitcoin, was launched in 2009. The Ethereum network launched in 2015 (though some ether was sold in a pre-mine in 2014). Ether, along with bitcoin, was one of the first cryptographic digital assets to gain global adoption and critical mass. In general, digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network and other cryptographic and algorithmic protocols governing the issuance of digital assets, represent a new and rapidly evolving industry that is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. For example, the realization of one or more of the following risks could materially adversely affect the value of the Shares:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Ether is only selectively accepted as a means of payment by retail and commercial outlets, and use of ether by consumers to pay such retail and commercial outlets remains limited. Banks and other established financial institutions may refuse to process funds for ether transactions; process wire transfers to or from digital asset exchanges, ether-related companies or service providers; or maintain accounts for persons or entities transacting in ether. As a result, the prices of ether may be influenced to a significant extent by speculators, thus contributing to price volatility that makes retailers less likely to accept ether in the future.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Banks may not provide banking services, or may cut off banking services, to businesses that provide digital asset-related services or that accept digital assets as payment, which could dampen liquidity in the market and damage the public perception of digital assets generally or any one digital asset in particular, such as ether, and their or its utility as a payment system, which could decrease the price of digital assets generally or individually. Further, the lack of availability of banking services could prevent the Trust from being able to complete creations and redemptions of Baskets, the timely liquidation of ether and withdrawal of assets from the Ether Custodian even if the Sponsor determined that such liquidation was appropriate or suitable, or otherwise disrupt the Trust's operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Certain privacy-preserving features have been or are expected to be introduced to digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network. For example, some prominent contributors to the Ethereum network have proposed the concept of "privacy pools," zero-knowledge proofs, and other privacy-preserving features. If any such features are introduced to the Ethereum network, any exchanges or businesses that facilitate transactions in ether may be at an increased risk of criminal or civil lawsuits, or of having banking services cut off if there is a concern that these features interfere with the performance of anti-money laundering duties and economic sanctions checks or facilitate illicit financing or crime.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Users, protocol and application developers and validators may otherwise switch to or adopt certain digital assets at the expense of their engagement with other digital asset networks, which may negatively impact those networks, including the Ethereum network.

The Trust is not actively managed and will not have any formal strategy relating to the development of the Ethereum network.

***Recent developments in the digital asset economy have led to extreme volatility and disruption in digital asset markets, a loss of confidence in participants of the digital asset ecosystem, significant negative publicity surrounding digital assets broadly and market-wide declines in liquidity.***

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021 and continuing to date, digital asset prices have fluctuated widely. This has led to volatility and disruption in the digital asset markets and financial difficulties for several prominent industry participants, including digital asset trading platforms, hedge funds and lending platforms. For example, in the first half of 2022, digital asset lenders Celsius Network LLC and Voyager Digital Ltd. and digital asset hedge fund Three Arrows Capital each declared bankruptcy, and the stablecoin TerraUSD collapsed. These events caused a loss of confidence in participants in the digital asset ecosystem, negative publicity surrounding digital assets more broadly and market-wide declines in digital asset trading prices and liquidity.

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Thereafter, in November 2022, FTX Trading Ltd. ("FTX"), the third largest digital asset trading platform by volume at the time, halted customer withdrawals amid rumors of the company's liquidity issues and likely insolvency. Shortly thereafter, FTX's CEO resigned and FTX and numerous affiliates of FTX filed for bankruptcy. The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently brought criminal charges, including charges of fraud, violations of federal securities laws, money laundering, and campaign finance offenses, against FTX's former CEO and others. In November 2023, FTX's former CEO was convicted of fraud and money laundering. Similar charges related to violations of anti-money laundering laws were brought in November 2023 against Binance and its former CEO. FTX is also under investigation by the SEC, the Justice Department, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as by various regulatory authorities in the Bahamas, Europe and other jurisdictions. In response to these events, the digital asset markets have experienced extreme price volatility and declines in liquidity, and regulatory and enforcement scrutiny has increased, including from the DOJ, the SEC, the CFTC, the White House and Congress. In addition, several other entities in the digital asset industry filed for bankruptcy following FTX's bankruptcy filing, such as BlockFi Inc. and Genesis Global Capital, LLC. The SEC also brought charges against Genesis Global Capital, LLC and Gemini Trust Company, LLC on January 12, 2023 for their alleged unregistered offer and sale of securities to retail investors. In October 2023, the New York Attorney General brought charges against Gemini, Genesis Global Capital and numerous affiliates of Genesis Global Capital, and Digital Currency Group alleging violations of law relating to the Gemini Earn program. In May 2024, the Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York approved a settlement of the charges with the Genesis entities.

These events resulted in calls for heightened scrutiny and regulation of the digital asset industry, with a specific focus on digital asset trading platforms, and custodians. For example, in June 2023, the SEC brought charges against Binance (the "Binance Complaint") and Coinbase (the "Coinbase Complaint"), two of the largest digital asset trading platforms, alleging that they solicited U.S. investors to buy, sell, and trade "crypto asset securities" through their unregistered trading platforms and operated unregistered securities exchanges, brokerages and clearing agencies. Binance subsequently announced that it would be suspending USD deposits and withdrawals on Binance.US and that it plans to delist its USD trading pairs. In addition, in November 2023, the SEC brought similar charges against Kraken (the "Kraken Complaint"), alleging that it operated as an unregistered securities exchange, brokerage and clearing agency. The Binance Complaint, the Coinbase Complaint and the Kraken Complaint led to further volatility in digital asset prices. In January 2025, the SEC launched the Crypto Task Force dedicated to developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for digital assets led by Commissioner Hester Peirce. Subsequently, Commissioner Peirce announced a list of specific priorities to further that initiative, which included pursuing final rules related to a digital asset's security status, a revised path to registered offerings and listings for digital asset-based investment vehicles, and clarity regarding digital asset custody, lending and staking. In February 2025, a 60-day stay was granted in the SEC's lawsuit against Binance in response to a joint request by both the SEC and Binance, which acknowledged that the SEC's newly formed Crypto Task Force's focus on developing a federal securities law framework for digital assets may resolve the case. In February 2025, Coinbase and the SEC entered into a joint stipulation to dismiss the SEC's lawsuit with prejudice, subject to the court's approval. Kraken has also announced that it reached an agreement in principle with the SEC to dismiss the SEC's lawsuit, subject to formal approval by the SEC's Commissioners. Several other digital asset market participants have also announced that the SEC informed them that the SEC was terminating its investigation or enforcement action into their firm. The final outcome of these lawsuits (to the extent not yet dismissed), their effect on the broader digital asset ecosystem and the reputational impact on industry participants, remain uncertain.

The U.S. regulatory regime—namely the Federal Reserve Board, U.S. Congress and certain U.S. agencies (e.g., the SEC, the CFTC, FinCEN, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) as well as the White House have issued reports and releases concerning digital assets, including ether and digital asset markets. However, the extent and content of any forthcoming laws and regulations are not yet ascertainable with certainty, and it may not be ascertainable in the near future. It is possible that new laws and increased regulation and regulatory scrutiny may require the Trust to comply with certain regulatory regimes, which could result in new costs for the Trust. The Trust may have to devote increased time and attention to regulatory matters, which could increase costs to the Trust. New laws, regulations and regulatory actions could significantly restrict or eliminate the market for, or uses of, digital assets including ether, which could have a negative effect on the value of ether, which in turn would have a negative effect on the value of the Trust's Shares.

These events are continuing to develop at a rapid pace and it is not possible to predict at this time all of the risks that they may pose to the Sponsor, the Trust, their affiliates and/or the Trust's third-party service providers, or to the digital asset industry as a whole.

Continued disruption and instability in the digital asset markets as these events develop, including further declines in the trading prices and liquidity of ether, could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares and the Shares could lose all or substantially all of their value.

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***Digital assets may have concentrated ownership and large sales or distributions by holders of such digital assets could have an adverse effect on the market price of such digital assets.***

A concentrated number of ether wallets is believed to hold, in aggregate, a significant percentage of the ether in circulation. Moreover, it is possible that other persons or entities control multiple wallets that collectively hold a significant number of ether, even if they individually only hold a small amount, and it is possible that some of these wallets are controlled by the same person or entity. As a result of this concentration of ownership, large sales or distributions by such holders could have an adverse effect on the market price of ether.

***It may be illegal now, or in the future, to acquire, own, hold, sell or use digital assets in one or more countries.***

Countries such as China, India and Russia have previously taken regulatory action to prohibit certain activities relating to digital assets and may take additional steps to prohibit or otherwise limit the use of digital assets in the future. In addition, countries may impose new or existing regulatory regimes on digital assets that are inconsistent with their intended operation. The imposition of such regulatory regimes on digital assets may have wide ranging implications on the offer, sale, trading, clearing and use of such assets, which may impede their continued adoption. Such regulatory regimes may adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

For example, in the United States, the SEC has been active in asserting its jurisdiction over digital assets. Specifically, the SEC and its staff have taken the position that certain digital assets fall within the definition of a security under the U.S. federal securities laws, beginning with the June 2017 Report of Investigation that concluded that "DAO Tokens" were investment contracts, because they were issued with the purpose of raising funds for investing in digital assets. The bankruptcy filings of FTX, the third largest digital asset trading platform by volume at the time of its filing, and other bankruptcy filings of crypto companies throughout calendar year 2022 increased the regulatory scrutiny of the digital asset industry. In 2023, the SEC charged each of Coinbase and Binance with operating its digital asset trading platform as an unregistered national securities exchange, broker and clearing agency, asserting that certain assets supported on each trading platform are securities. The SEC also brought similar charges against Kraken, alleging that it operated as an unregistered securities exchange, brokerage and clearing agency. While the SEC has entered into joint stipulations with Coinbase, Binance and Kraken to dismiss the SEC's lawsuits with prejudice, subject to court approval, the final outcome of these lawsuits, and other investigations or enforcement actions with other digital asset market participants (to the extent not yet dismissed), their effect on the broader digital asset ecosystem and the reputational impact on industry participants remain uncertain. Furthermore, in August 2022, OFAC banned all U.S. citizens from using Tornado Cash, a digital asset protocol designed to obfuscate blockchain transactions, by adding certain Ethereum wallet addresses associated with the protocol to its Specially Designated Nationals list.

In addition, Congress continues to consider potential legislation designed to comprehensively regulate the digital asset industry in the U.S. If enacted, such new legislation could dramatically restructure the regulatory framework within which digital assets may be offered, sold, traded, cleared and used in the U.S. Such a restructuring could affect the viability of digital assets in the U.S. and accordingly adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

**Risks Associated with Ether and the Ethereum Network**

***The Ethereum network and its native digital asset, ether, are a relatively new technological innovation with a limited operating history.***

Ether has a relatively limited history of existence and operations compared to traditional commodities. There is a limited established performance record for the price of ether and, in turn, a limited basis for evaluating an investment in ether. Although past performance is not necessarily indicative of future result, if ether had a more established history, such history might (or might not) provide investors with more information on which to evaluate an investment in the trust.

***Changes in the governance of a digital asset network may not receive sufficient support from users and validators, which may negatively affect that digital asset network's ability to grow and respond to challenges.***

The governance of decentralized networks, such as the Ethereum network, is by voluntary consensus and open competition. As a result, there may be a lack of consensus or clarity on the governance of any particular decentralized digital asset network, which may stymie such network's utility and ability to grow and face challenges. The foregoing notwithstanding, the protocols for some decentralized networks, such as the Ethereum network, are informally managed by a group of core developers that propose amendments to the relevant network's source code. Core developers' roles evolve over time, largely based on self-determined participation. If a significant majority of users and validators adopt amendments to a decentralized network based on the proposals of such core developers, such network will be subject to new protocols that may adversely affect the value of the relevant digital asset.

As a result of the foregoing, it may be difficult to find solutions or marshal sufficient effort to overcome any future problems, especially long-term problems, on digital asset networks.

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***Digital asset networks face significant scaling challenges and efforts to increase the volume and speed of transactions may not be successful.***

Many digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network, face significant scaling challenges due to the fact that public blockchains generally face a tradeoff between security, scalability, and decentralization. This is commonly known as the Blockchain Trilemma under which only two of the three ideal blockchain features have been attainable. One means through which public blockchains achieve security is decentralization, meaning that no intermediary is responsible for securing and maintaining these systems. This is one reason why security and decentralization is the most popular pairing. In practice, this typically means that every single validator on a given digital asset network is responsible for securing the system by processing every transaction and every single full node is responsible for maintaining a copy of the entire state of the network. As a result, a digital asset network may be limited in the number of transactions it can process by the fact that all validators participate in validating in each block and the capabilities of each single fully participating node.

As of December 31, 2025, the Ethereum network handled approximately 24.7 transactions per second. In an effort to increase the volume of transactions that can be processed on a given digital asset network, many digital assets are being upgraded with various features to increase the speed and throughput of digital asset transactions. As corresponding increases in throughput lag behind growth in the use of digital asset networks, average fees and settlement times may increase considerably. For example, the Ethereum network has been, at times, at capacity, which has led to increased transaction fees. In December 2017, the popularity of the blockchain-based game Cryptokitties led to significant network congestion on the Ethereum network. The game, which allows players to trade and create virtual kitties, represented by NFTs, was reported by some sources to have accounted for more than 10% of the entire Ethereum network traffic at the time causing increases in transaction fees and delays in transaction processing times, and driving Ethereum network traffic to a reported then all-time high. Since January 1, 2020, ether transaction fees have increased from $0.08 average daily transaction fees per ether transaction, to a high of up to approximately $200 (in ether) average daily transaction fees per transaction on April 30, 2022. Transaction fees on the Ethereum network have fluctuated significantly over time and may continue to do so, including during periods of network congestion. Elevated fees and slower settlement can reduce demand for network usage and adversely affect ether's price. Increased fees and decreased settlement speeds could preclude certain uses for ether (e.g., micropayments), and could reduce demand for, and the price of, ether, which could adversely impact the value of the Shares.

In the second half of 2020, the Ethereum network began the first of several stages of an upgrade culminating in the Merge. The Merge amended the Ethereum network's consensus mechanism to include a process known as proof-of-stake, and was intended to address the perceived shortcomings of the proof-of-work consensus mechanism in terms of labor intensity and duplicative computational effort expended by validators (known under proof-of-work as "miners") who did not win the race, under proof-of-work, to be the first in time to solve the cryptographic puzzle that would allow them to be the only validator permitted to validate the block and receive the resulting block reward (which was given only to the first validator to successfully solve the puzzle and hash a given block, and not to others). Instead, under proof-of-stake, a single validator is randomly selected to solve the cryptographic puzzle needed to validate a block, which it proposes to a committee of other validators, who vote for whether to include the block (or not), which reduces the computational work performed—and energy expended—to validate each block compared to proof-of-work. *See "*[*<u>Ether, Ether Markets and Regulation of Ether</u>*](#ether_markets_and_regulation_of_ether)*"* for additional information.

Following the Merge, core development of the Ethereum source code has increasingly focused on modifications of the Ethereum protocol to increase speed, throughput and scalability and also to improve existing or next generation uses. Future upgrades to the Ethereum protocol and Ethereum blockchain to address scaling issues—such as network congestion, slow throughput and periods of high transaction fees owing to spikes in network demand—have been discussed by network participants, such as sharding. The purpose of sharding is to increase scalability of the Ethereum blockchain by splitting the blockchain into subsections, called shards, and dividing validation responsibility so that a defined subset of validators would be responsible for each shard, rather than all validators being responsible for the entire blockchain, allowing for parallel processing and validation of transactions. However, there appears to be uncertainty and a lack of existing widespread consensus among network participants about how to solve the scaling challenges faced by the Ethereum network.

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The rapid development of other competing scalability solutions, such as those that would rely on handling the bulk of computational work relating to transactions or smart contracts and DApps outside of the main Ethereum network and Ethereum blockchain, has caused alternatives to sharding to emerge. "Layer 2" is a collective term for solutions that are designed to help increase throughput and reduce transaction fees by processing or executing transactions off the main Ethereum network (known as "Layer 1") and then attempting to take advantage of the perceived security and integrity advantages of the Layer 1 Ethereum network by posting the transactions executed on the Layer 2 protocol back to the Layer 1 Ethereum network. The details of how this is done vary significantly between different Layer 2 technologies and implementations. For example, "rollups" perform transaction execution outside the Layer 1 blockchain and then post the data, typically in batches, back to the Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain where consensus is reached. "Zero knowledge rollups" are generally designed to run the computation needed to validate the transactions off-chain, on the Layer 2 protocol, and submit a proof of validity of a batch of transactions (not the entire transactions themselves). By contrast, "optimistic rollups" assume transactions are valid by default and only run computation in the event of a challenge. Other proposed Layer 2 scaling solutions include, among others, "state channels," which are designed to allow participants to run a large number of transactions on the Layer 2 side channel protocol and only submit two transactions to the main Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain (the transaction opening the state channel, and the transaction closing the channel); and "side chains," in which an entire Layer 2 blockchain network with capabilities similar to those of the existing Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain runs in parallel with the existing Layer 1 Ethereum blockchain and allows smart contracts and DApps to run on the Layer 2 side chain without burdening the main Layer 1 network. To date, the Ethereum network community has not coalesced overwhelmingly around any particular Layer 2 solution, though this could change.

There is no guarantee that any of the mechanisms in place or being explored for increasing the speed and throughput of settlement of Ethereum network transactions will be effective, or how long these mechanisms will take to become effective, which could cause the Ethereum network to not adequately resolve scaling challenges and could adversely impact the adoption of ether and the Ethereum network and the value of the Shares. There is no guarantee that any potential scaling solution, whether a change to the Layer 1 blockchain like sharding or the introduction of a Layer 2 solution like rollups, state channels or side chains, will achieve widespread adoption. It is possible that proposed changes to the Layer 1 Ethereum network could divide the community, potentially even causing a hard fork, or that the decentralized governance of the Ethereum network could cause network participants to fail to coalesce overwhelmingly around any particular solution, resulting in the Ethereum network suffering reduced adoption or causing users or validators to migrate to other blockchain networks. It is also possible that scaling solutions could fail to work as intended or could introduce bugs, coding defects or flaws, security risks, or other problems that could cause the Ethereum network to suffer operational disruptions. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect the price of ether or the value of the Shares of the Trust.

***If a malicious actor or botnet obtains control of more than 50% of the validating stake on the Ethereum network, or otherwise obtains control over the Ethereum network through its influence over core developers or otherwise, such actor or botnet could manipulate the Ethereum blockchain, which could adversely affect the value of the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate.***

All networked systems are vulnerable to various kinds of attacks. As with any computer network, the Ethereum network contains certain flaws. For example, the Ethereum network is currently vulnerable to several types of attacks, including:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•">33% attack" where, if a validator or group of validators were to gain control of more than 33% of the staked ether, a malicious actor could cause a temporary fork in the blockchain.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•">50% attack" where, if a validator or group of validators acting in concert were to gain control of more than 50% of the staked ether, a malicious actor would be able to gain full control of the network and the ability to manipulate the blockchain, potentially for an extended period or even permanently.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•">66% attack" where, if a validator or group of validators acting in concert were to gain control of more than 66% of the staked ether, a malicious actor could permanently and irreversibly manipulate the blockchain.

The success of these types of attacks depends on the malicious actor's ability to gather an enormous amount of ether and other resources, which serves as the primary practical defense of the network. If a malicious actor or botnet (a volunteer or hacked collection of computers controlled by networked software coordinating the actions of the computers) obtains a majority of the validating power on the Ethereum network, it may be able to alter the Ethereum blockchain on which transactions in ether rely by constructing fraudulent blocks or preventing certain transactions from completing in a timely manner, or at all. The malicious actor or botnet could also control, exclude or modify the ordering of transactions. Although the malicious actor or botnet would not be able to generate new tokens or transactions using such control, it could "double-spend" its own tokens (i.e., spend the same tokens in more than one transaction) and prevent the confirmation of other users' transactions for so long as it maintained control. To the extent that such malicious actor or botnet did not yield its control of the validating power on the Ethereum network or the Ethereum community did not reject the fraudulent blocks as malicious, reversing any changes made to the Ethereum blockchain may not be possible. Further, a malicious actor or botnet could create a flood of transactions in order to slow down the Ethereum network.

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For example, in August 2020, the Ethereum Classic Network was the target of two double-spend attacks by an unknown actor or actors that gained more than 50% of the processing power of the Ethereum Classic Network. The attack resulted in reorganizations of the Ethereum Classic Blockchain that allowed the attacker or attackers to reverse previously recorded transactions in excess of $5.0 million and $1.0 million.

In addition, in May 2019, the Bitcoin Cash network experienced a 51% attack when two large mining pools reversed a series of transactions in order to stop an unknown miner from taking advantage of a flaw in a recent Bitcoin Cash protocol upgrade. Although this particular attack was arguably benevolent, the fact that such coordinated activity was able to occur may negatively impact perceptions of the Bitcoin Cash network. Although the two attacks described above took place on proof-of-work-based networks, it is possible that a similar attack may occur on the proof-of-stake Ethereum network, which could negatively impact the value of ether and the value of the Shares.

Although there are no known reports of malicious activity on, or control of, the Ethereum network, it is believed that certain groups of coordinating or connected ether holders may together have more than 50% of outstanding ether which, if staked and if the users run validators, would permit them to exert authority over the validation of ether transactions. This risk is heightened if over 50% of the processing power on the network falls within the jurisdiction of a single governmental authority. If network participants, including the core developers and the administrators of validating pools, do not act to ensure greater decentralization of ether, the feasibility of a malicious actor obtaining control of the validating power on the Ethereum network will increase, which may adversely affect the value of the Shares.

A malicious actor may also obtain control over the Ethereum network through its influence over core developers by gaining direct control over a core developer or an otherwise influential programmer. To the extent that users and validators accept amendments to the source code proposed by the controlled core developer, other core developers do not counter such amendments, and such amendments enable the malicious exploitation of the Ethereum network, the risk that a malicious actor may be able to obtain control of the Ethereum network in this manner exists. Moreover, it is possible that a group of ether holders that together control more than 50% of outstanding ether are in fact part of the initial or core developer group, or are otherwise influential members of the Ethereum community. To the extent that the initial or existing core developer groups also control more than 50% of outstanding ether, as some believe, the risk of and arising from this particular group of users obtaining control of the validating power on the Ethereum network will be even greater and, should this materialize, it may adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***Any name change and any associated rebranding initiative by the core developers of ether may not be favorably received by the digital asset community, which could negatively impact the value of ether and the value of the Shares.***

From time to time, digital assets may undergo name changes and associated rebranding initiatives. For example, Bitcoin Cash may sometimes be referred to as Bitcoin ABC in an effort to differentiate itself from any Bitcoin Cash hard forks, such as Bitcoin Satoshi's Vision, and in the third quarter of 2018, the team behind ZEN rebranded and changed the name of ZenCash to "Horizen." The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of any name change and any associated rebranding initiative on ether. After a name change and an associated rebranding initiative, a digital asset may not be able to achieve or maintain brand name recognition or status that is comparable to the recognition and status previously enjoyed by such digital asset. The failure of any name change and any associated rebranding initiative by a digital asset may result in such digital asset not realizing some or all of the anticipated benefits contemplated by the name change and associated rebranding initiative, and could negatively impact the value of ether and the value of the Shares.

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***Smart contracts, including those relating to DeFi applications, are a new technology and their ongoing development and operation may result in problems, which could reduce the demand for ether or cause a wider loss of confidence in the Ethereum network, either of which could have an adverse impact on the value of ether.***

Smart contracts are programs that run on the Ethereum blockchain that execute automatically when certain conditions are met. Since smart contracts typically cannot be stopped or reversed, vulnerabilities in their programming can have damaging effects. For example, in June 2016, a vulnerability in the smart contracts underlying The DAO (as described below) allowed an attack by a hacker to syphon approximately $60 million worth of ether from The DAO's accounts into a segregated account. In the aftermath of the theft, certain core developers and contributors pursued a "hard fork" of the Ethereum network in order to erase any record of the theft. Despite these efforts, the price of ether reportedly dropped approximately 35% in the aftermath of the attack and subsequent hard fork. In addition, in July 2017, a vulnerability in a smart contract for a multi-signature wallet software developed by Parity led to a reportedly $30 million theft of ether, and in November 2017, a new vulnerability in Parity's wallet software reportedly led to roughly $160 million worth of ether being indefinitely frozen in an account. Furthermore, in April 2018, a batch overflow bug was found in many Ethereum-based ERC20-compatible smart contract tokens, allowing hackers to create a large number of smart contract tokens and causing multiple crypto asset platforms worldwide to shut down ERC20-compatible token trading. Similarly, in March 2020, a design flaw in the MakerDAO smart contract caused forced liquidations of crypto assets at significantly discounted prices, resulting in millions of dollars of losses to users who had deposited crypto assets into the smart contract. Other smart contracts, such as bridges between blockchain networks and DeFi protocols have also been manipulated, exploited or used in ways that were not intended or envisioned by their creators such that attackers siphoned over $3.8 billion worth of digital assets from smart contracts in 2022. Problems with the development, deployment, and operation of smart contracts may have an adverse effect on the value of ether.

In some cases, smart contracts can be controlled by one or more "admin keys," users with special privileges, or "super users." These users may have the ability to unilaterally make changes to the smart contract, enable or disable features on the smart contract, change how the smart contract receives external inputs and data or transmits ether or other digital assets, and make other changes to the smart contract. Furthermore, in some cases inadequate public information may be available about certain smart contracts or applications, and information asymmetries may exist, even with respect to open-source smart contracts or applications; certain participants may have hidden informational or technological advantages, making for an uneven playing field. There may be opportunities for bad actors to perpetrate fraudulent schemes and engage in illicit activities and other misconduct, such as exit scams and rug pulls (orchestrated by developers and/or influencers who promote a smart contract or application and, ultimately, escape with the money at an agreed time), or Ponzi or similar fraud schemes.

Many DeFi applications are currently deployed on the Ethereum network, and smart contracts relating to DeFi applications currently represent a significant source of demand for ether. DeFi applications may achieve their investment purposes through self-executing smart contracts that may allow users, for example, to invest digital assets in a pool from which other users can borrow without requiring an intermediate party to facilitate these transactions. These investments may earn interest to the investor based on the rates at which borrowers repay the loan, and can generally be withdrawn by the investor. For smart contracts that hold a pool of digital asset reserves, smart contract super users or admin key holders may be able to extract funds from the pool, liquidate assets held in the pool, or take other actions that decrease the value of the digital assets held by the smart contract in reserves. Even for digital assets that have adopted a decentralized governance mechanism, such as smart contracts that are governed by the holders of a governance token, such governance tokens can be concentrated in the hands of a small group of core community members, who would be able to make similar changes unilaterally to the smart contract. If any such super user or group of core members unilaterally makes adverse changes to a smart contract or to the design, functionality, features and value of the smart contract, its related digital assets may be harmed. In addition, assets held by the smart contract in reserves may be stolen, misused, burnt or locked up, or otherwise become unusable and irrecoverable. Super users can also become targets of hackers and malicious attackers. If an attacker is able to access or obtain the super user privileges of a smart contract, or if a smart contract's super users or core community members take actions that adversely affect the smart contract, users who transact with the smart contract may experience decreased functionality of the smart contract or may suffer a partial or total loss of any digital assets they have used to transact with the smart contract.

Furthermore, the underlying smart contracts may be insecure, may contain bugs or other vulnerabilities, or otherwise may not work as intended. Any of the foregoing could cause users of the DeFi application to be negatively affected or could cause the DeFi application to be the subject of negative publicity. Because DeFi applications may be built on the Ethereum network and represent a significant source of demand for ether, public confidence in the Ethereum network itself could be negatively affected, such sources of demand could diminish, and the value of ether could decrease. Similar risks apply to any smart contract or decentralized application, not just DeFi applications.

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***Validators may suffer losses due to staking, which could make the Ethereum network less attractive.***

Validation on the Ethereum network requires ether to be deposited (i.e., "staked") to activate a validator node. If the Ethereum network source code or protocol fail to behave as expected, suffer cybersecurity attacks or hacks, experience security issues, or encounter other problems, such assets may be irretrievably lost. The Ethereum network imposes three types of sanctions for validator misbehavior or inactivity, which would result in a portion of their staked ether being confiscated, withdrawn or "burned": penalties, slashing, and inactivity leaks. A validator may face penalties if it fails to take certain actions, such as providing a timely attestation to a block proposed by another validator. Under this scenario, a validator's staked ether could be burned in an amount equal to the reward to which the validator would have been entitled for performing the actions. A more severe sanction (i.e., "slashing") is imposed if a validator commits malicious acts related to the proposal or attestation of blocks with invalid transactions. After an initial slashing, as described in the previous sentence, the validator is queued for forceful removal from the Ethereum network's validator "pool," and more of the validator's staked ether is burned over a period of approximately thirty-six (36) days with the exact amount of ether burned and time period determined by the network regardless of whether the validator makes any further slashable errors, at which point the validator is automatically removed from the validator pool. Staked ether may also be burned through a process known as an "inactivity leak," which is triggered if the Ethereum network has gone too long without finalizing a new block. For a new block to be successfully added to the blockchain, validators that account for at least two-thirds of all staked ether must agree on the validity of a proposed block. This means that if validators representing more than one-third of the total staked ether are offline, no new blocks can be finalized. To prevent this, an inactivity leak causes the ether staked by the inactive validators to gradually "bleed away" until these inactive validators represent less than one-third of the total stake, thereby allowing the remaining active validators to finalize proposed blocks. Any cybersecurity attacks, security issues, hacks, penalties, slashing events, or other problems could damage validators' willingness to participate in validation, discourage existing and future validators from serving as such, and adversely impact the Ethereum network's adoption or the price of ether. Any disruption of validation on the Ethereum network could interfere with network operations and cause the Ethereum network to be less attractive to users and application developers than competing blockchain networks, which could cause the price of ether to decrease. The limited liquidity during the "activation" or "exiting" processes could dissuade potential validators from participating, which could interfere with network operations or security and cause the Ethereum network to be less attractive to users and application developers than competing blockchain networks, which could cause the price of ether to decrease.

***Proof-of-stake blockchains are a relatively recent innovation and have not been subject to as widespread use or adoption over as long of a period of time as proof-of-work blockchains.***

Certain digital assets, such as bitcoin, use a "proof-of-work" consensus algorithm. The genesis block on the Bitcoin blockchain was mined in 2009, and Bitcoin's blockchain has been in operation since then. Many newer blockchains enabling smart contract functionality, including the current Ethereum network following the completion of the Merge in 2022, use a newer consensus algorithm known as "proof-of-stake." While their proponents believe that they may have certain advantages, the "proof-of-stake" consensus mechanisms and governance systems underlying many newer blockchain protocols, including the Ethereum network following the Merge, and their associated digital assets—including the ether held by the Trust—have not been tested at scale over as long of a period of time or subject to as widespread use or adoption as, for example, bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism has. This could lead to these blockchains, and their associated digital assets, having undetected vulnerabilities, structural design flaws, suboptimal incentive structures for network participants (e.g., validators), technical disruptions, or a wide variety of other problems, any of which could cause these blockchains not to function as intended; could lead to outright failure to function entirely causing a total outage or disruption of network activity; or could cause them to suffer other operational problems or reputational damage, leading to a loss of users or adoption or a loss in value of the associated digital assets, including the Trust's assets. Over the long term, there can be no assurance that the proof-of-stake blockchain on which the Trust's assets rely will achieve widespread scale or adoption or will perform successfully; any failure to do so could negatively impact the value of the Trust's assets.

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***Centralization concerns around a single person or entity controlling a large percentage of the validating stake.***

Validators must deposit at least 32 ether to establish a node and activate a unique validator key pair that is used to sign block proposals and attestations on behalf of its stake (i.e., vote on its view of the chain). For each node that established, a unique validator key pair is generated. An application built on the Ethereum network, or a single node operator, can manage many validator key pairs. For example, Lido*,* an application that provides a so-called "liquid staking" solution which permits holders of ether to deposit them with Lido*,* which stakes the ether while issuing the holder a transferrable token, is reported by some sources to have or have had up to 275,000 validator key pairs divided across over 30 node operators. At times, Lido has reportedly controlled around, or in excess of, 33% of the total staked ether on the Ethereum network. While it is widely believed that Lido has little incentive to attempt to interfere with transaction finality or block confirmations using its reported 33% stake, since doing so would likely cause its entire stake to be slashed and thus lost (assuming good actors unaffiliated with Lido controlled the remainder), and also because Lido is believed to not control most of the third party node operators where its ether is staked, and finally since the occurrence of such manipulation of the Ethereum network's consensus process by Lido or any other actor would likely cause ether to lose substantial value (which would hurt Lido economically), it nevertheless poses centralization concerns. If Lido, or a bad actor with a similar sized stake, were to attempt to interfere with transaction finality or block confirmations, it could negatively affect the use and adoption of the Ethereum network and the value of ether, and thus the value of the Shares.

***Spot markets on which ether trades are relatively new and largely unregulated or may not be complying with existing regulations and, therefore, may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments, which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.***

Digital asset trading platforms are relatively new and, in some cases, unregulated or may not be complying with existing regulations. Several digital asset trading platforms are unlicensed, unregulated, operate without extensive supervision by governmental authorities, and do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management team, corporate practices, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.

In the U.S., digital asset trading platforms may not be subject to, or may not comply with, regulations governing the operation of national securities exchanges or designated contract markets. Furthermore, while many prominent digital asset trading platforms provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management teams, corporate practices and regulatory compliance, many digital asset trading platforms do not provide this information. Furthermore, because these platforms are largely unregulated or may not be complying with existing regulations, there is an increased risk of fraud, manipulation and other malfeasance on these platforms, both by malicious third-party actors and the platforms' own personnel. For example, persons with access to trade order information on a digital asset trading platform may use such information to "front-run" those orders, which may go undetected in part due to the lack of regulations requiring those platforms to adopt deterrence mechanisms.

Outside the U.S., digital asset trading platforms may be subject to significantly less stringent regulatory and compliance requirements in their local jurisdictions. As a result, trading activity on or reported by these digital asset trading platforms is generally significantly less regulated than trading in regulated U.S. securities and commodities markets, and may reflect behavior that would be prohibited in regulated U.S. trading venues. For example, in 2019 there were reports claiming that 80.95% of bitcoin trading volume on digital asset trading platforms was false or noneconomic in nature, with specific focus on unregulated platforms located outside of the United States. Such reports may indicate that the digital asset trading platform market is significantly smaller than expected and that the U.S. makes up a significantly larger percentage of the digital asset trading platform market than is commonly understood. Nonetheless, any actual or perceived false trading in the digital asset trading platform market, and any other fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, could adversely affect the value of digital assets, including ether, and/or negatively affect the market perception of digital assets, including ether. As a result, the marketplace may lose confidence in digital asset trading platform, including prominent exchanges that handle a significant volume of ether trading.

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The ether market globally and in the United States is not subject to comparable regulatory guardrails as exist in regulated securities markets. Furthermore, many ether trading venues lack certain safeguards put in place by exchanges for more traditional assets to enhance the stability of trading on the exchanges and prevent "flash crashes," such as limit-down circuit breakers. As a result, the prices of ether on trading venues may be subject to larger and/or more frequent sudden declines than assets traded on more traditional exchanges. Tools to detect and deter fraudulent or manipulative trading activities such as market manipulation, front-running of trades, and wash-trading may not be available to or employed by digital asset exchanges, or may not exist at all. The SEC has identified possible sources of fraud and manipulation in the digital asset markets generally, including, among others (1) "wash trading"; (2) persons with a dominant position in a digital asset manipulating the digital asset's pricing; (3) hacking of the digital asset's peer-to-peer network, protocols and trading platforms; (4) malicious control of the digital asset network; (5) trading based on material, non-public information (for example, plans of market participants to significantly increase or decrease their holdings in the digital asset, new sources of demand for the digital asset, etc.) or based on the dissemination of false and misleading information; (6) manipulative activity involving purported "stablecoins" (for more information, *see "Prices of ether may be affected by stablecoins, the activities of stablecoin issuers and their regulatory treatment"*); and (7) fraud and manipulation at digital asset trading platforms. The effect of potential market manipulation, front-running, wash-trading, and other fraudulent or manipulative trading practices may inflate the volumes actually present in the digital asset markets and/or cause distortions in price, which could adversely affect the Trust or cause losses to Shareholders.

In addition, over the past several years, some digital asset trading platforms have been closed due to fraud and manipulative activity, business failure or security breaches. In many of these instances, the customers of such digital asset trading platforms were not compensated or made whole for the partial or complete losses of their account balances in such digital asset trading platforms. While, generally speaking, smaller digital asset trading platforms are less likely to have the infrastructure and capitalization that make larger digital asset trading platforms more stable, larger digital asset trading platforms are more likely to be appealing targets for hackers and malware and may be more likely to be targets of regulatory enforcement action. For example, the collapse of Mt. Gox, which filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan in late February 2014, demonstrated that even the largest digital asset trading platforms could be subject to abrupt failure with consequences for both users of digital asset trading platforms and the digital asset industry as a whole. In particular, in the two weeks that followed the February 7, 2014 halt of bitcoin withdrawals from Mt. Gox, the value of one bitcoin fell on other platforms from around $795 on February 6, 2014 to $578 on February 20, 2014. Additionally, in January 2015, Bitstamp announced that approximately 19,000 bitcoin had been stolen from its operational or "hot" wallets. Further, in August 2016, it was reported that almost 120,000 bitcoin worth around $78 million were stolen from Bitfinex, a large digital asset trading platform. The value of bitcoin and other digital assets immediately decreased over 10% following reports of the theft at Bitfinex. In November 2022, FTX, one of the largest digital asset trading platforms by volume at the time, halted customer withdrawals amid rumors of the company's liquidity issues and likely insolvency, which were subsequently corroborated by its CEO. Shortly thereafter, FTX's CEO resigned and FTX and many of its affiliates filed for bankruptcy in the United States, while other affiliates have entered insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceedings around the globe, following which the U.S. Department of Justice brought criminal fraud and other charges, and the SEC and CFTC brought civil securities and commodities fraud charges, against certain of FTX's and its affiliates' senior executives, including its former CEO. Around the same time, there were reports that approximately $300-600 million of digital assets were removed from FTX and the full facts remain unknown, including whether such removal was the result of a hack, theft, insider activity, or other improper behavior. In February 2025, approximately $1.5 billion of ether was stolen from the Dubai-based Bybit exchange. Bybit claims the hack occurred when the company was making a routine transfer of ether from an offline "cold" wallet to a hot wallet, with the attacker suspected to be agents of North Korea exploiting security controls to gain control of the assets

Negative perception, a lack of stability in the digital asset markets and the closure or temporary shutdown of digital asset trading platforms due to fraud, failure or security breaches may reduce confidence in the Ethereum network and result in greater volatility or decreases in the prices of ether. Furthermore, the closure or temporary shutdown of a digital asset trading platforms used in calculating the Index may result in a loss of confidence in the Trust's ability to determine its NAV on a daily basis. The potential consequences of a digital asset trading platform's failure could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

Furthermore, some spot markets, including both centralized and decentralized venues, lack certain safeguards put in place by more traditional exchanges to enhance the stability of trading on the exchange and prevent flash crashes, such as limit-down circuit breakers. As a result, the prices of digital assets such as ether on digital asset trading platforms may be subject to larger and/or more frequent sudden declines than assets traded on more traditional exchanges.

A lack of stability in the ether spot markets, including as a result of any manipulation of ether spot markets and the termination or suspension of spot market operations due to fraud, operational failures, cybersecurity breaches, or violations or alleged violations of laws and regulations, may reduce confidence in ether generally and result in greater volatility in the market price of ether and the Shares of the Trust. Furthermore, the closure or temporary shutdown of an ether spot market may impact the Trust's ability to determine the value of its ether holdings or for the Trust's Authorized Participants to effectively arbitrage the Trust's Shares. The potential consequences of a spot market's failure or failure to prevent market manipulation could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

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***Momentum pricing*.**

The value of a single unit of ether as represented by the Index may also be subject to momentum pricing due to speculation regarding future appreciation in value, leading to greater volatility that could adversely affect the value of the Shares. Momentum pricing typically is associated with growth stocks and other assets whose valuation, as determined by the investing public, is impacted by appreciation in value. Momentum pricing may result in speculation regarding future appreciation in the value of digital assets, which inflates prices and leads to increased volatility. As a result, ether may be more likely to fluctuate in value due to changing investor confidence in future appreciation or depreciation in prices, which could adversely affect the price of ether, and, in turn, an investment in the Trust.

Some market observers have asserted that the ether market is experiencing a "bubble" and have predicted that, in time, the value of ether will fall to a fraction of its current value, or even to zero. Ether has not been in existence long enough for market participants to assess these predictions with any precision, but if these observers are even partially correct, an investment in the Shares may turn out to be substantially worthless.

***Irrevocable nature of blockchain-recorded transactions.***

Ether transactions recorded on the Ethereum network are not, from an administrative perspective, reversible, in theory, without the control or consent of a majority of the nodes on the Ethereum network. Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that is added to the blockchain, an incorrect transfer of an ether or a theft of ether generally will not be reversible, and the Trust may not be capable of seeking compensation for or return of any such transfer or theft. It is possible that, through computer or human error, or through theft or criminal action, the Trust's ether could be transferred from custody accounts in incorrect quantities or to unauthorized third parties. To the extent that the Trust is unable to seek a corrective transaction with such third-party or is incapable of identifying the third-party that has received the Trust's ether through error or theft, the Trust will be unable to revert or otherwise recover incorrectly transferred ether. To the extent that the Trust is unable to seek redress for such error or theft, such loss could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***The loss or destruction of a private key required to access ether may be irreversible*.**

Digital assets, including ether, are controllable only by the possessor of both the unique public key and private key or keys relating to the "digital wallet" in which the digital asset is held. Private keys must be safeguarded and kept private in order to prevent a third-party from accessing the digital asset held in such wallet. To the extent a private key is lost, destroyed or otherwise compromised and no backup of the private key is accessible, the Trust will be unable to access, and will effectively lose, the ether held in the related digital wallet. In addition, if the Trust's private keys are misappropriated and the Trust's ether holdings are stolen, including from or by the Custodian, the Trust could lose some or all of its ether holdings, which would adversely impact an investment in the Shares of the Trust. Any loss of private keys relating to digital wallets used to store the Trust's ether would adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***A disruption of the internet may affect Ethereum network operations, which may adversely affect the ether industry and an investment in the Trust.***

The Ethereum network relies on the Internet. A significant disruption of Internet connectivity could disrupt the Ethereum network's functionality and operations until the disruption in the Internet is resolved. A disruption in the Internet could adversely affect an investment in the Trust or the ability of the Trust to operate. In particular, some variants of digital assets have experienced a number of denial-of-service attacks, which have led to temporary delays in block creation and digital asset transfers. Moreover, it is possible that as ether increases in value, it may become a bigger target for hackers and subject to more frequent hacking and denial-of-service attacks.

Digital assets are also susceptible to border gateway protocol hijacking ("BGP hijacking"). Such an attack can be a very effective way for an attacker to intercept traffic en route to a legitimate destination. BGP hijacking impacts the way different nodes are connected to one another to isolate portions of them from the remainder of the network, which could lead to a risk of the network allowing double-spending and other security issues. If BGP hijacking occurs on the Ethereum network, participants may lose faith in the security of ether, which could affect ether's value and consequently the value of the Shares.

Any future attacks that impact the ability to transfer ether could have a material adverse effect on the price of ether and the value of an investment in the Shares.

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***Potential amendments to the Ethereum network's protocols and software could, if accepted and authorized by the Ethereum network community, adversely affect an investment in the Trust.***

The Ethereum network uses cryptographic protocols to govern the interactions within the Ethereum network. A loose community known as the core developers has evolved to informally manage the source code for the protocol. Membership in the community of core developers evolves over time, largely based on self-determined participation in the resource section dedicated to Ethereum on GitHub.com. The core developers can propose amendments to the Ethereum network's source code that, if accepted by validators and users, could alter the protocols and software of the Ethereum network and the properties of ether. These alterations would occur through software upgrades, and could potentially include changes to the irreversibility of transactions and limitations on the issuance of new ether or changes to the ether supply, which could undermine the appeal and market value of ether. Alternatively, software upgrades and other changes to the protocols of the Ethereum network could fail to work as intended or could introduce bugs, coding defects or flaws, or security risks, or could otherwise adversely affect, the speed, security, usability, or value of the Ethereum network or ether. As a result, the Ethereum network could be subject to changes to its protocols and software in the future that may adversely affect an investment in the Trust.

***The open-source structure of the Ethereum network protocol means that the core developers and other contributors are generally not directly compensated for their contributions in maintaining and developing the Ethereum network protocol. A failure to properly monitor and upgrade the Ethereum network protocol could damage the Ethereum network and an investment in the Trust.***

The Ethereum network operates based on an open-source protocol maintained by the core developers and other contributors, largely on the GitHub resource section dedicated to Ethereum network development. As new ether are rewarded solely for validator activity (other than the 2014 pre-mine) and are not sold on an ongoing basis to generate revenue to support development activity, and the Ethereum network protocol itself is made available for free rather than sold or made available subject to licensing or subscription fees and its use does not generate revenues for its development team, the core developers are generally not compensated for maintaining and updating the source code for the Ethereum network protocol. Consequently, there is a lack of financial incentive for developers to maintain or develop the Ethereum network and the core developers may lack the resources to adequately address emerging issues with the Ethereum network protocol. Although the Ethereum network is currently supported by the core developers, there can be no guarantee that such support will continue or be sufficient in the future. For example, there have been recent reports that the number of core developers who have the authority to make amendments to the Ethereum network's source code in the GitHub repository is relatively small, although there is believed to be a larger number of developers who contribute to the overall development of the source code of the Ethereum network. The perception that high-profile contributors may no longer contribute to the network may have an adverse effect on the market price of any related digital assets. For example, in June 2017, an unfounded rumor circulated that Ethereum core developer Vitalik Buterin had died. Following the rumor, the price of ether decreased approximately 20% before recovering after Buterin himself dispelled the rumor. Some have speculated that the rumor led to the decrease in the price of ether. In the event a high-profile contributor to the Ethereum network, such as Vitalik Buterin, is perceived as no longer able to contribute to the Ethereum network due to death, retirement, withdrawal, incapacity, or otherwise, whether or not such perception is valid, it could negatively affect the price of ether, which could adversely impact the value of the Shares.

Alternatively, some developers may be funded by entities whose interests are at odds with those of other participants in the Ethereum network. In addition, a bad actor could also attempt to interfere with the operation of the Ethereum network by attempting to exercise a malign influence over a core developer. To the extent that material issues arise with the Ethereum network protocol and the core developers and open-source contributors are unable to address the issues adequately or in a timely manner, the Ethereum network and an investment in the Trust may be adversely affected.

***Decentralized governance of the Ethereum network could have a negative impact on the performance of the Trust.***

Governance of decentralized networks, such as the Ethereum network, is achieved through voluntary consensus and open competition. In other words, while the Ethereum Foundation does serve as a driver of implementation of certain upgrades, the Ethereum network has no central decision-making body or clear manner in which participants can come to an agreement other than through overwhelming consensus. The lack of clarity on governance may adversely affect ether's utility and ability to grow and face challenges, both of which may require solutions and directed effort to overcome problems, especially long-term problems. For example, a seemingly simple technical issue once divided the Ethereum network community: namely, whether to increase the block size of the blockchain or implement another change to increase the scalability of ether.

To the extent lack of clarity in corporate governance of the Ethereum network leads to ineffective decision- making that slows development and growth, the value of the Shares may be adversely affected.

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***A temporary or permanent "fork" could adversely affect the value of the Shares.***

The Ethereum network operates using open-source protocols, meaning that any user can become a node by downloading the Ethereum Client, modifying it and then proposing that the other nodes (and users and validators of ether) support that modification (in the case of nodes, by downloading it into their own Ethereum Clients; in the case of validators and users who are not nodes, by continuing to use the Ethereum network rather than abandoning it or switching to a competing blockchain network).

The Ethereum Foundation and core developers are able to access and alter the Ethereum network source code and, as a result, they are typically responsible for proposing quasi-official or widely publicized releases of updates and other changes to the Ethereum network's source code (although any user can do so). However, the release of proposed updates to the Ethereum network's source code by core developers does not guarantee that the updates will be adopted. Nodes must accept any changes made to the Ethereum source code by choosing to download the proposed modification of the Ethereum network's source code in their individual Ethereum Client, and ultimately a critical mass of validators and users—such as DApp and smart contract developers, as well as users of DApps and smart contracts, and anyone else who transacts on the Ethereum blockchain or within the Ethereum network—must support the shift, or the upgrades will lack adoption. A modification of the Ethereum network's source code is only effective with respect to the Ethereum nodes that download it and modify their Ethereum Clients accordingly, and in practice such decisions are heavily influenced by the preferences of validators and users. When a modification is introduced and a sufficiently broad critical mass of users and validators supports the modification and nodes download the modification into their individual Ethereum Clients, the change is implemented and the network remains uninterrupted. However, if less than a sufficiently broad critical mass (in practice, amounting to a substantial majority) of users and validators support the proposed modification and nodes refuse to download the modification to their Ethereum Clients, and the modification is not backwards compatible with the Ethereum blockchain or network or the Ethereum Clients of nodes prior to their modification, the consequence would be what is known as a "hard fork" of the Ethereum network, with one group of nodes running the pre-modified software and with users and validators continuing to use the pre-modified software, while the other group would adopt and run the modified software. The effect of such a fork would be the existence of two versions of the Ethereum network running in parallel on separate networks using separate blockchain ledgers, yet lacking interchangeability. In practice, the two networks would compete with each other for users, validators, and adoption, potentially to their mutual detriment (for example, if the number of validators on each network is too small leading to security concerns, as discussed below, or if the number of users on each is reduced compared to the number of users of the single pre-fork blockchain network). Debates relating to hard forks can be contentious and hard fought among network participants, and can lead to ill will.

A future fork in the Ethereum network could adversely affect the value of the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate. A hard fork could also adversely affect the price of ether at the time of announcement or adoption or subsequently. The announcement of a hard fork could lead to increased demand for the pre-fork digital asset, in anticipation that ownership of the pre-fork digital asset would entitle holders to a new digital asset following the fork. The increased demand for the pre-fork digital asset may cause the price of the digital asset to rise. For example, following the hack of The DAO in July 2016, holders of ether voted on-chain to reverse the hack, effectively causing a hard fork. For the days following the vote, the price of ether rose from $11.65 on July 15, 2016, to $14.66 on July 21, 2016, the day after the first Ethereum Classic block was mined (as discussed further below). By comparison, when Bitcoin Cash forked from the bitcoin network, the value of bitcoin went from $2,800 to $2,700. Examples listed above are for illustrative purposes only. Price movements of digital assets subject to or resulting from a hard fork cannot be predicted in advance. After a hard fork, it is possible the aggregate price of the two versions of the digital asset running in parallel would be less than the price of the digital asset immediately prior to the fork. If the hard fork caused operational problems for either the post-fork network or the blockchain, the digital assets associated with the affected network could lose some or all of their value. Furthermore, while the Sponsor will, as permitted by the terms of the Trust Agreement, determine which network is generally accepted as the Ethereum network and should therefore be considered the appropriate network for the Trust's purposes, there is no guarantee that the Sponsor will choose the network and the associated digital asset that is ultimately the most valuable fork. Any of these events could therefore adversely impact the value of the Shares.

In September 2022, the Ethereum network transitioned to a proof-of-stake model, in an upgrade referred to as the "Merge." Following the Merge, a hard fork of the Ethereum network occurred, as certain Ethereum validators and network participants planned to maintain the proof-of-work consensus mechanism that was removed as part of the Merge. This version of the network was rebranded as "Ethereum Proof-of-Work."

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Forks may also occur as a network community's response to a significant security breach. For example, in July 2016, Ethereum "forked" into Ethereum and a new digital asset, Ethereum Classic, as a result of the Ethereum network community's response to a significant security breach. In June 2016, an anonymous hacker exploited a smart contract running on the Ethereum network to siphon approximately $60 million of ether held by The DAO, a distributed autonomous organization, into a segregated account. In response to the hack, most participants in the Ethereum community elected to adopt a "fork" that effectively reversed the hack. However, a minority of users continued to develop the original blockchain, referred to as Ethereum Classic with the digital asset on that blockchain now referred to as ETC. ETC now trades on several digital asset exchanges. A fork may also occur as a result of an unintentional or unanticipated software flaw in the various versions of otherwise compatible software that users run. Such a fork could lead to users and validators abandoning the digital asset and associated network with the flawed software. It is possible, however, that a substantial number of users and validators could adopt an incompatible version of the digital asset while resisting community-led efforts to merge the two chains. This could result in a permanent fork, as in the case of Ethereum and Ethereum Classic.

Furthermore, a hard fork can lead to new security concerns. For example, when the Ethereum and Ethereum Classic networks split in July 2016, replay attacks, in which transactions from one network were rebroadcast to nefarious effect on the other network, plagued Ethereum trading platforms through at least October 2016. An Ethereum trading platform announced in July 2016 that it had lost 40,000 Ethereum Classic, worth about $100,000 at that time, as a result of replay attacks. Similar replay attack concerns occurred in connection with the Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Satoshi's Vision networks split in November 2018. Another possible result of a hard fork is an inherent decrease in the level of security due to significant amounts of validating power remaining on one network or migrating instead to the new forked network. After a hard fork, it may become easier for an individual validator or validating pool's validating power to exceed 50% of the validating power of a digital asset network that retained or attracted less validating power, thereby making digital asset networks that rely on proof-of-stake more susceptible to attack.

Protocols may also be cloned. Unlike a fork, which modifies an existing blockchain and results in two competing networks, each with the same genesis block, a "clone" is a copy of a protocol's codebase but results in an entirely new blockchain and new genesis block. Tokens are created solely from the new "clone" network and, in contrast to forks, holders of tokens of the existing network that was cloned do not receive any tokens of the new network. A "clone" results in a competing network that has characteristics substantially similar to the network it was based on, subject to any changes as determined by the developer(s) that initiated the clone. A clone may also adversely affect the price of ether at the time of announcement or adoption, or subsequently. For example, on November 6, 2016, Rhett Creighton, a Zcash developer, cloned the Zcash Network to launch Zclassic, a substantially identical version of the Zcash Network that eliminated the Founders' Reward. For the days following the date the first Zclassic block was mined, the price of ZEC fell from $504.57 on November 5, 2016, to $236.01 on November 7, 2016, in the midst of a broader sell off of ZEC beginning immediately after the Zcash Network launch on October 28, 2016.

***The inability to recognize the economic benefit of a "fork" or an "air drop" could adversely impact an investment in the Trust.***

*Network Forks.*

The Ethereum network is open source, meaning that any user can download the software, modify it and then propose that the users and validators of ether transactions adopt the modification. When a modification is introduced and a substantial majority of users and validators consent to the modification, the change is implemented and the Ethereum network remains uninterrupted. However, a "hard fork" occurs if less than a substantial majority of users and validators consent to the proposed modification, and the modification is not compatible with the software prior to its modification. In other words, two incompatible networks would then exist: (1) one network running the pre-modified software and (2) another network running the modified software. The effect of such a fork would be the existence of two versions of the network running in parallel, yet lacking interchangeability. This is in contrast to a "soft fork," or a proposed modification to the software governing the network that results in a post-update network that is compatible with the network as it existed prior to the update, because it restricts the network operations that can be performed after the update.

The only digital asset that will be held by the Trust is ether. By investing in the Trust rather than directly in ether, Shareholders forgo potential economic benefits associated with forks. If ether were to fork into two digital assets, the Trust may hold, in addition to its existing ether balance, a right to claim an equivalent amount of the new "forked" asset following the hard fork. The Sponsor will cause the Trust to irrevocably abandon any digital asset resulting from a fork in the Ethereum network (other than what the Sponsor determines to be ether). If the Trust were to change this policy, the Trust would need to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust's registration statement and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules.

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*Air Drops.*

Ether may become subject to an occurrence similar to a fork, which is known as an "air drop." In an air drop, the promotors of a new digital asset announce to holders of another digital asset that they will be entitled to claim a certain amount of the new digital asset for free, based on the fact that they hold such other digital asset. Air drops are not included in the Index under its current methodology.

The Index does not track air drops involving ether. Accordingly, the Trust will disclaim, and the Sponsor will cause the Trust to irrevocably abandon, all rights to digital assets air dropped to holders of ether. By investing in the Trust rather than directly in ether, Shareholders forgo potential economic benefits associated with air drops. Any change to the Trust's policy on air dropped assets would require the Trust to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust's registration statement and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules.

***In the event of a hard fork of the Ethereum network that results in the spinoff of another network, the Sponsor will, as permitted by the terms of the Trust Agreement, use its discretion to determine which network should be considered the appropriate network for the Trust's purposes, and in doing so may adversely affect the value of the Shares.***

The only digital asset that will be held by the Trust is ether. In the event of a hard fork of the Ethereum network, the Sponsor will, as permitted by the terms of the Trust Agreement, use its sole discretion to determine, in good faith, which peer-to-peer network, among a group of incompatible forks of the Ethereum network, is generally accepted as the Ethereum network and should therefore be considered the appropriate network for the Trust's purposes. The Sponsor will base its determination on whatever factors it deems relevant, including, but not limited to, the Sponsor's beliefs regarding expectations of the core developers of Ethereum, the developer roadmap, users of block space (available capacity within a block to store data and execute code) including services and businesses, suppliers of block space (i.e., validators) and their associated incentives, and other constituencies, as well as other non-fundamental factors, the Ethereum network, the Custodian's ability and willingness to support the fork, or whatever other factors it deems relevant. There is no guarantee that the Sponsor will choose the digital asset that is ultimately the most valuable fork, and the Sponsor's decision may adversely affect the value of the Shares as a result. The Sponsor may also disagree with Shareholders, the Custodian, other service providers, the Index Provider, cryptocurrency exchanges, or other market participants on what is generally accepted as ether and should therefore be considered "ether" for the Trust's purposes, which may also adversely affect the value of the Shares as a result. The Sponsor will cause the Trust to irrevocably abandon any digital asset resulting from a fork in the Ethereum network (other than what the Sponsor determines to be ether). If the Trust were to change this policy, the Trust would need to seek and obtain certain regulatory approvals, including an amendment to the Trust's registration statement and approval of an application by the Exchange to amend its listing rules.

***Malicious actors may "double spend" ether by altering the formation of the blockchain.***

A malicious actor may attempt to "double spend" (i.e., spend the same units in more than one transaction) ether by altering the formation of the blockchain. In this type of attack, a validator creates a valid new block containing a double-spend transaction and schedules the release of such attack block so that it is added to the blockchain before a target user's legitimate transaction can be included in a block. All double-spend attacks require that the validator sequence and execute the steps of its attack with sufficient speed and accuracy. Double- spend attacks require extensive coordination and are very expensive. Typically, transactions that allow for a zero-confirmation acceptance tend to be prone to these types of attacks. Accordingly, traders and merchants may execute instantaneous/zero-confirmation transactions only if they are of sufficiently low-value. Users and merchants can take additional precautions by adjusting their network software programs to connect only to other well-connected participants in the Ethereum network and to disable incoming connections.

***Flaws in source code for digital asset networks could adversely affect the value of ether and other digital assets.***

In the past, flaws in the source code for digital asset networks have been exposed and exploited, including flaws that disabled some functionality for users, exposed users' personal information and/or resulted in the theft of users' digital assets. Discovery of flaws in or exploitations of the source code that allow malicious actors to take or create money in contravention of known network rules have occurred. The cryptography underlying ether could prove to be flawed or ineffective, or developments in mathematics and/or technology, such as advances in digital computing, algebraic geometry and quantum computing, could make cryptography ineffective. In any of these circumstances, a malicious actor may be able to steal ether held by others, which could adversely affect the demand for ether and therefore adversely impact the price of ether and the value of the Shares. Even if another digital asset other than ether were affected by similar circumstances, any reduction in confidence in the robustness of the source code or cryptography underlying digital assets generally could negatively affect the demand for all digital assets, including ether, and therefore adversely affect the value of the Shares.

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***Mathematical or technological advances could undermine the Ethereum network's consensus mechanism.***

The Ethereum network relies on cryptographic algorithms for various operations, including address generation, transaction verification and smart contract execution. It is possible that mathematical or technological advances, such as the development of quantum computers with significantly more power than computers presently available, could undermine or vitiate the cryptographic consensus mechanism underpinning the Ethereum Blockchain. Quantum computing technology is an emerging phenomenon, because it is still developing, which makes it difficult to predict its ultimate effect on the future value of ether and other digital assets. However, recent announcements by computer technology companies have suggested that quantum computing technology may be advancing faster than previously anticipated. For example, in February 2025, Microsoft announced its Majorana 1 chip, which is claimed to have the potential to support a one-million-qubit quantum computer. If quantum computing technology is able to advance and significantly increase its capacity relative to the capacity of today's leading quantum computers, it could potentially undermine the viability of many of the cryptographic algorithms used across the world's information technology infrastructure, including the cryptographic algorithms used for digital assets like ether. If quantum computing is able to advance in that way, there is a risk that quantum computing could result in the cryptography underlying the Ethereum network becoming ineffective, which, if realized, could compromise the security of the Ethereum network, or allow a malicious actor to compromise the wallets holding ether owned by the Trust or others on the Ethereum network, which would result in losses to Shareholders. While various actors in the Ethereum community are taking steps to enable the uses of cryptographic algorithms that would be resistant to advanced quantum computers, there is no guarantee that new quantum-proof architectures will be built and appropriate transitions will be implemented across the network at scale in a timely manner; any such changes could require the achievement of broad consensus within the Ethereum network community and a fork (or multiple forks), and there can be no assurance that such consensus would be achieved or the changes implemented successfully. If any of the foregoing were to occur, it could result in losses to Shareholders. Moreover, normal operations and functionality of the Ethereum network may be negatively affected. Such losses of functionality could lead to the Ethereum network losing attractiveness to users, nodes, validators, or other stakeholders, thereby dampening demand for ether. Even if another digital asset other than ether were affected by similar circumstances, any reduction in confidence in the source code or cryptography underlying digital assets generally could negatively affect the demand for digital assets and therefore adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***Competition from central bank digital currencies ("CBDCs") could adversely affect the value of ether and other digital assets.***

Central banks in various countries have introduced digital forms of legal tender. China's CBDC project, known as Digital Currency Electronic Payment, has reportedly been tested in a live pilot program conducted in multiple cities in China. Central banks representing at least 130 countries have published retail or wholesale CBDC work ranging from research to pilot projects. Whether or not they incorporate blockchain or similar technology, CBDCs, as legal tender in the issuing jurisdiction, could have an advantage in competing with, or replacing, ether and other cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange or store of value. Central banks and other governmental entities have also announced cooperative initiatives and consortia with private sector entities, with the goal of leveraging blockchain and other technology to reduce friction in cross-border and interbank payments and settlement, and commercial banks and other financial institutions have also announced a number of initiatives of their own to incorporate new technologies, including blockchain and similar technologies, into their payments and settlement activities, which could compete with, or reduce the demand for, ether. As a result of any of the foregoing factors, the value of ether could decrease, which could adversely affect an investment in the Trust.

***Prices of ether may be affected by stablecoins, the activities of stablecoin issuers and their regulatory treatment.***

While the Trust does not invest in stablecoins, it may nonetheless be exposed to certain risks that stablecoins pose to the ether market. Stablecoins are digital assets designed to have a stable value over time as compared to typically volatile digital assets, and may be backed by a fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar, commodities, such as gold, or other digital assets. Given the foundational role that stablecoins play in global digital asset markets, their fundamental liquidity could have a dramatic impact on the broader digital asset market, including the market for ether. Volatility in stablecoins, operational issues with stablecoins (for example, technical issues that prevent settlement), concerns about the sufficiency of any reserves that support stablecoins or potential manipulative activity when unbacked stablecoins are used to pay for other digital assets (including ether), or regulatory concerns about stablecoin issuers or intermediaries, such as exchanges, that support stablecoins, could impact individuals' willingness to trade on trading venues that rely on stablecoins, reduce liquidity in the ether market, and affect the value of ether, and in turn impact an investment in the Shares.

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For example, because a large portion of the digital asset market still depends on stablecoins such as Tether and USDC, there is a risk that a disorderly de-pegging or a run on Tether or USDC could lead to dramatic market volatility in digital assets more broadly. Questions about the sufficiency of the backing of certain stablecoins has caused the prices for such stablecoins to fluctuate, which fluctuations may affect the price of ether. For example, some have argued that the issuance of Tether has been used to artificially increase demand for ether, thereby inflating its price. On February 17, 2021, the New York Attorney General entered into an agreement with Tether's operators, requiring them to cease any further trading activity with New York persons and pay $18.5 million in penalties for false and misleading statements made regarding the assets backing Tether. On October 15, 2021, the CFTC announced a settlement with Tether's operators in which they agreed to pay $42.5 million in fines to settle charges that, among others, Tether's claims that it maintained sufficient U.S. dollar reserves to back every Tether stablecoin in circulation with the "equivalent amount of corresponding fiat currency" held by Tether were untrue. In addition, a large amount of Tether is issued as ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network. If Tether were to no longer be issued or operating on the Ethereum network, there would be no need to use ether to pay the gas fees needed to record ERC-20 Tether transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, and a substantial source of demand for ether could be eliminated, which could cause the price of ether to decrease, affecting the value of the Shares.

USDC is a reserve-backed stablecoin issued by Circle Internet Financial that is commonly used as a method of payment in digital asset markets, including the ether market. While USDC is designed to maintain a stable value at 1 U.S. dollar at all times, on March 10, 2023, the value of USDC fell below $1.00 for multiple days after Circle Internet Financial disclosed that $3.3 billion of the USDC reserves were held at Silicon Valley Bank, which had entered FDIC receivership earlier that day. Stablecoins are reliant on the U.S. banking system and U.S. treasuries, and the failure of either to function normally could impede the function of stablecoins, and therefore could adversely affect the value of the Shares. Similar to Tether, a large amount of USDC is issued as ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network. If USDC were to no longer be issued or operating on the Ethereum network, there would be no need to use ether to pay the gas fees needed to record ERC-20 USDC transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, and a substantial source of demand for ether could be eliminated, which could cause the price of ether to decrease, affecting the value of the Shares.

Given the foundational role that stablecoins play in global digital asset markets, their fundamental liquidity can have a dramatic impact on the broader digital asset market, including the market for ether. Because a large portion of the digital asset market still depends on stablecoins such as Tether and USDC, there is a risk that a disorderly de-pegging or a run on Tether or USDC could lead to dramatic market volatility in digital assets more broadly. Volatility in stablecoins; operational issues with stablecoins (for example, technical issues that prevent settlement); concerns about the sufficiency of any reserves that support stablecoins or potential manipulative activity when unbacked stablecoins are used to pay for other digital assets (including ether); regulatory concerns about stablecoin issuers or intermediaries, such as exchanges, that support stablecoins; or the removal or migration of prominent stablecoins away from the Ethereum network, could impact individuals' willingness to trade on trading venues that rely on stablecoins, reduce liquidity in the ether market, and affect the value of ether, and in turn impact an investment in the Shares.

***Competition from the emergence or growth of other digital assets or methods of investing in ether could have a negative impact on the price of ether and adversely affect the value of the Shares.***

As of December 31, 2025, ether was the second largest digital asset by market capitalization as tracked by CoinMarketCap.com. As of December 31, 2025, there were over 10,000 alternative digital assets tracked by CoinMarketCap.com, having a total market capitalization of approximately $2.96 trillion (including the approximately $360.0 billion market cap of ether), as calculated using market prices and total available supply of each digital asset, excluding tokens pegged to other assets. In addition, many consortia and financial institutions are also researching and investing resources into private or permissioned smart contracts platforms rather than open platforms like the Ethereum network. Competition from the emergence or growth of alternative digital assets and smart contracts platforms, such as Solana, Avalanche or Cardano, could have a negative impact on the demand for, and price of, ether and thereby adversely affect the value of the Shares.

In addition, some digital asset networks, including the Ethereum network, may be the target of ill will from users of other digital asset networks. For example, in July 2016, the Ethereum network underwent a contentious hard fork that resulted in the creation of a new digital asset network called Ethereum Classic. As a result, some users of the Ethereum Classic network may harbor ill will toward the Ethereum network. These users may attempt to negatively impact the use or adoption of the Ethereum network. For additional information on the hard fork that resulted in the creation of Ethereum Classic. *See "*[*<u>Ether, Ether Markets and Regulation of Ether</u>*](#ether_markets_and_regulation_of_ether)*"*

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Investors may invest in ether through means other than the Shares, including through direct investments in ether and other potential financial vehicles, possibly including securities backed by or linked to ether and digital asset financial vehicles similar to the Trust, or ether futures-based products. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Sponsor's control, may make it more attractive to invest in other financial vehicles or to invest in ether directly, which could limit the market for, and reduce the liquidity of, the Shares. In addition, to the extent digital asset financial vehicles other than the Trust tracking the price of ether are formed and represent a significant proportion of the demand for ether, large purchases or redemptions of the securities of these digital asset financial vehicles, or private funds holding ether, could negatively affect the Index, the Trust's ether holdings, the price of the Shares, the net asset value of the Trust and the per share NAV of the Trust.

***Large-scale sales or distributions could significantly reduce the price of ether and adversely affect the value of the Shares*.**

Some entities hold large amounts of ether relative to other market participants, and to the extent such entities engage in large-scale hedging, sales or distributions on non-market terms, or sales in the ordinary course, it could result in a reduction in the price of ether and adversely affect the value of the Shares. Additionally, political or economic crises may motivate large-scale acquisitions or sales of such digital assets, including ether, either globally or locally. Such large-scale sales or distributions could result in selling pressure that may reduce the price of ether and adversely affect an investment in the Shares.

As of the date of this Annual Report, the 200 largest ether wallets held approximately one-quarter of the outstanding supply of ether and it is possible that some of these wallets are controlled by the same person or entity. Moreover, it is possible that other persons or entities control multiple wallets that collectively hold a significant number of ether, even if each wallet individually only holds a small amount. As a result of this concentration of ownership, large sales by such holders could have an adverse effect on the market price of ether.

***Congestion or delay in the Ethereum network may delay purchases, sales or transfers of ether by the Trust.***

The size of each block on the Ethereum network is currently limited and the transaction rate is significantly below the level that centralized systems can provide. Increased transaction volume could result in delays in the recording of transactions due to congestion in the Ethereum network. Moreover, unforeseen system failures, disruptions in operations, or poor connectivity may also result in delays in the recording of transactions on the Ethereum network. Any delay in the Ethereum network could affect the Authorized Participant's, or the Authorized Participant Designee's, ability to buy or sell ether at an advantageous price resulting in decreased confidence in the Ethereum network. Over the longer term, delays in confirming transactions could reduce the attractiveness to merchants and other commercial parties as a means of payment. As a result, the Ethereum network and the value of the Trust would be adversely affected.

***If the digital asset award or transaction fees for recording transactions on the Ethereum network are not sufficiently high to incentivize validators may demand high transaction fees, which could negatively impact the value of ether and the value of the Shares.***

In 2021, the Ethereum network implemented the EIP-1559 upgrade. EIP-1559 changed the methodology used to calculate transaction fees paid to ether validators in such a manner that reduced the total net issuance of ether fees paid to validators. If the digital asset awards for validating blocks or the transaction fees for recording transactions on the Ethereum network are not sufficiently high to incentivize validators, or if certain jurisdictions continue to limit or otherwise regulate validating activities, validators may cease expending validating power to validate blocks and confirmations of transactions on the Ethereum blockchain could be slowed. For example, the realization of one or more of the following risks could materially adversely affect the value of the Shares:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•A reduction in the processing power expended by validators on the Ethereum network could increase the likelihood of a malicious actor or botnet (a volunteer or hacked collection of computers controlled by networked software coordinating the actions of the computers) obtaining control. *See "If a malicious actor or botnet obtains control of more than 50% of the validating stake on the Ethereum network, or otherwise obtains control over the Ethereum network through its influence over core developers or otherwise, such actor or botnet could manipulate the Ethereum blockchain, which would adversely affect the value of the Shares or the ability of the Trust to operate."*

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Validators have historically accepted relatively low transaction confirmation fees on most digital asset networks. If validators demand higher transaction fees for recording transactions in the Ethereum blockchain or a software upgrade automatically charges fees for all transactions on the Ethereum network, the cost of using ether may increase and the marketplace may be reluctant to accept ether as a means of payment. Alternatively, validators could collude in an anti-competitive manner to reject low transaction fees on the Ethereum network and force users to pay higher fees, thus reducing the attractiveness of the Ethereum network. Higher transaction confirmation fees resulting through collusion or otherwise may adversely affect the attractiveness of the Ethereum network, the value of ether and the value of the Shares.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•To the extent that any validators cease to record transactions that do not include the payment of a transaction fee in blocks or do not record a transaction because the transaction fee is too low, such transactions will not be recorded on the Ethereum blockchain until a block is validated by a validator who does not require the payment of transaction fees or is willing to accept a lower fee. Any widespread delays or disruptions in the recording of transactions could result in a loss of confidence in the Ethereum network and could prevent the Trust from completing transactions associated with the day-to-day operations of the Trust, including creations and redemptions of the Shares in exchange for ether with Authorized Participants.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•During the course of the block validation processes, validators exercise the discretion to select which transactions to include within a block and in what order to include these transactions. Beyond the standard block reward and transaction fees, validators have the ability to extract what is known as Maximal Extractable Value ("MEV") by strategically choosing, reordering, or excluding certain transactions during block production in return for increased transaction fees or other forms of revenue for such validators. In blockchain networks that facilitate DeFi protocols in particular, such as the Ethereum network, users may attempt to gain an advantage over other users by offering additional fees to validators for effecting the order or inclusions of transactions within a block. Certain software solutions, such as MEV Boost by Flashbots, have been developed which facilitate validators and other parties in the ecosystem in capturing MEV. The presence of MEV may incentivize associated practices such as sandwich attacks or front running that can have negative repercussions on DeFi users. A "sandwich attack" is executed by placing two transactions around a large, detected transaction to capitalize on the expected price impact. For instance, a market participant might identify a sizable transaction within the mempool that will significantly alter an asset's price on a decentralized exchange. The participant could then, for example, orchestrate a transaction bundle: one transaction to acquire the asset prior to the detected transaction, followed by the large transaction itself, and a final transaction to sell the asset after the market price has increased due to the large transaction's execution. Such transaction bundles can be submitted to validators through mechanisms like MEV-Boost, with validators receiving a share of the profits as an incentive to include the specific transaction bundle in the block. In the context of MEV, "front running" is said to occur when a user spots a transaction in the publicly visible so-called memory pool ("mempool") of pending but unexecuted transactions awaiting validation, and then pays a high transaction fee to a validator to have their transaction executed on a priority basis in a manner designed to profit from the pending but unexecuted transaction that is still in the mempool. MEV may also compromise the predictability of transaction execution, which may deter usage of the network as a whole. Although based on widely available information given that transactions in the mempool are publicly visible, any potential perception of MEV as unfair manipulation may also discourage users and other stakeholders from engaging with DeFi protocols or the Ethereum network in general. In addition, it's possible regulators or legislators could enact rules that restrict practices associated with MEV, which could diminish the popularity of the Ethereum network among users and validators. Any of these or other outcomes related to MEV may adversely affect the value of ether and the value of the Shares.

***If the Ethereum network is used to facilitate illicit activities or evade sanctions, businesses that facilitate transactions in ether could be at increased risk of criminal or civil lawsuits, or of having services cut off, which could negatively affect the price of ether and the value of the Shares.***

Digital asset networks have in the past been, and may continue to be, used to facilitate illicit activities. If the Ethereum network is used to facilitate illicit activities or evade sanctions, businesses that facilitate transactions in ether could be at increased risk of potential criminal or civil lawsuits, or of having banking or other services cut off, and ether could be removed from digital asset trading platforms as a result of these concerns. Other service providers of such businesses may also cut off services if there is a concern that the Ethereum network is being used to facilitate crime. Any of the aforementioned occurrences could increase regulatory scrutiny of the Ethereum network and/or adversely affect the price of ether, the attractiveness of the Ethereum network and an investment in the Shares of the Trust.

The Trust and the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Trust, directly interact with (i) parties that are themselves subject to AML program requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act or similar laws (i.e., Authorized Participants and/or financial institution counterparties) and/or (ii) Authorized Participant Designees.

The Authorized Participants are registered broker-dealers or other financial institutions that are subject to AML and countering the financing of terrorism obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act as administered by FinCEN and further overseen by the SEC and FINRA, including the obligation to conduct due diligence on their customers (including but not limited to their Authorized Participant Designees).

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When the Trust and the Sponsor, acting on behalf of the Trust, buy or sell, as applicable, ether, they transact directly with financial institution counterparties that are subject to U.S. federal and/or state licensing requirements or similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions and maintain practices and policies designed to comply with AML and KYC regulations or similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Trust will not hold any ether except those that have been delivered by the Trust's ether trading counterparties, Authorized Participants, or the Authorized Participant Designees, in connection with creation requests.

If the Sponsor, the Trust, or an Authorized Participant were nevertheless to transact with such a sanctioned entity, the Sponsor, the Trust, and such Authorized Participant would be at increased risk of potential criminal or civil lawsuits.

**Risks Associated with Investing in the Trust**

***Investment-Related Risks*.**

Investing in ether and, consequently, the Trust, is speculative. The price of ether is volatile, and market movements of ether are difficult to predict. Supply and demand changes rapidly are affected by a variety of factors, including regulation and general economic trends, such as interest rates, availability of credit, credit defaults, inflation rates and economic uncertainty. All investments made by the Trust will risk the loss of capital. Therefore, an investment in the Trust involves a high degree of risk, including the risk that the entire amount invested may be lost. No guarantee or representation is made that the Trust's investment program will be successful, that the Trust will achieve its investment objective or that there will be any return of capital invested to investors in the Trust, and investment results may vary.

***The NAV may not always correspond to the market price of ether.***

The NAV of the Trust will change as fluctuations occur in the market price of the Trust's ether holdings. Shareholders should be aware that the public trading price per share may be different from the NAV for a number of reasons, including price volatility and the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares are related, but not identical, to the supply and demand forces influencing the market price of ether.

An Authorized Participant may be able to create or redeem a Basket at a discount or a premium to the public trading price per share, although some creations or redemptions may take place in kind, and the Trust will therefore maintain its intended fractional exposure to a specific amount of ether per share.

***Different from directly owning ether*.**

The performance of the Trust will not reflect the specific return an investor would realize if the investor actually held or purchased ether directly. The differences in performance may be due to factors such as fees, transaction costs, and index tracking risk. Investors will also forgo certain rights conferred by owning ether directly, such as the right to claim air drops. *See "Risk Factors—The inability to recognize the economic benefit of a 'fork' or an 'air drop' could adversely impact an investment in the Trust."*

***Index tracking risk*.**

The Trust may not achieve the desired degree of correlation between its performance and that of the Index and thus may not achieve its investment objective. The difference in performance may be due to factors such as fees, transaction costs, redemptions of, and subscriptions for, Shares, pricing differences, differences in the timing of the addition or removal of constituent exchanges underlying the Index or the cost to the Trust of complying with various new or existing regulatory requirements.

***Liquidity risk.***

The Trust's and an Authorized Participant's, or its Authorized Participant Designee's, ability to buy or sell ether may be adversely affected by limited trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions. It is also possible that an ether spot market or governmental authority may suspend or restrict trading in ether altogether. Therefore, it may not always be possible to execute a buy or sell order at the desired price or to liquidate an open position due to market conditions on spot markets, regulatory issues affecting ether or other issues affecting counterparties. Ether is a new asset with a very limited trading history. Therefore, the markets for ether may be less liquid and more volatile than other markets for more established products.

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***The value of the Shares may be influenced by a variety of factors unrelated to the value of ether.***

The value of the Shares may be influenced by a variety of factors unrelated to the price of ether and the ether exchanges included in the Index that may have an adverse effect on the price of the Shares. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following factors:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Unanticipated problems or issues with respect to the mechanics of the Trust's operations and the trading of the Shares may arise, in particular due to the fact that the mechanisms and procedures governing the creation and offering of the Shares and storage of ether have been developed specifically for this product;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Trust could experience difficulties in operating and maintaining its technical infrastructure, including in connection with expansions or updates to such infrastructure, which are likely to be complex and could lead to unanticipated delays, unforeseen expenses and security vulnerabilities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Trust could experience unforeseen issues relating to the performance and effectiveness of the security procedures used to protect the Trust's account with the Custodian, or the security procedures may not protect against all errors, software flaws or other vulnerabilities in the Trust's technical infrastructure, which could result in theft, loss or damage of its assets; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Service providers may decide to terminate their relationships with the Trust due to concerns that the introduction of privacy enhancing features to the Ethereum network may increase the potential for ether to be used to facilitate crime, exposing such service providers to potential reputational harm.

Any of these factors could affect the value of the Shares, either directly or indirectly through their effect on the Trust's assets.

***An Authorized Participant's, or its Authorized Participant Designee's, buying and selling activity associated with the creation and redemption of Baskets may adversely affect an investment in the Shares.***

An Authorized Participant's, or its Authorized Participant Designee's, purchase of ether in connection with Basket creation orders may cause the price of ether to increase, which will result in higher prices for the Shares. Increases in the ether prices may also occur as a result of ether purchases by other market participants who attempt to benefit from an increase in the market price of ether when baskets are created. The market price of ether may therefore decline immediately after Baskets are created.

Selling activity associated with sales of ether by an Authorized Participant, or its Authorized Participant Designee, in connection with redemption orders may decrease ether prices, which will result in lower prices for the Shares. Decreases in ether prices may also occur as a result of selling activity by other market participants.

In addition to the effect that purchases and sales of ether by an Authorized Participant, or its Authorized Participant Designee, may have on the price of ether, sales and purchases of ether by similar investment vehicles (if developed) could impact the price of ether. If the price of ether declines, the trading price of the Shares will generally also decline.

***The inability of Authorized Participants and market makers to hedge their ether exposure may adversely affect the liquidity of Shares and the value of an investment in the Shares.***

Authorized Participants and market makers will generally want to hedge their exposure in connection with Basket creation and redemption orders. To the extent Authorized Participants and market makers are unable to hedge their exposure due to market conditions (e.g., insufficient ether liquidity in the market, inability to locate an appropriate hedge counterparty, extreme volatility in the price of ether, wide spreads between prices quotes on different ether trading platforms, etc.), such conditions may make it difficult to create or redeem Baskets or cause them to not create or redeem Baskets. In addition, the hedging mechanisms employed by Authorized Participants and market makers to hedge their exposure to ether may not function as intended, which may make it more difficult for them to enter into such transactions. Such events could negatively impact the market price of Shares and the spread at which Shares trade on the open market. To the extent Authorized Participants wish to use futures to hedge their exposure, note that while growing in recent years, the market for exchange-traded ether futures has a limited trading history and operational experience and may be less liquid, more volatile and more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes than more established futures markets. The liquidity of the market will depend on, among other things, the adoption of ether and the commercial and speculative interest in the market.

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***Arbitrage transactions intended to keep the price of Shares closely linked to the price of ether may be problematic if the process for the creation and redemption of Baskets encounters difficulties, which may adversely affect an investment in the Shares.***

If the processes of creation and redemption of the Shares encounter any unanticipated difficulties, potential market participants who would otherwise be willing to purchase or redeem Baskets to take advantage of any arbitrage opportunity arising from discrepancies between the price of the Shares and the price of the underlying ether may not take the risk that, as a result of those difficulties, they may not be able to realize the profit they expect. In addition, the Trust's NAV and the price of a Basket Deposit (as defined below) could rise or fall substantially between the time a purchase order is submitted by an Authorized Participant and the time the amount of the purchase price in respect thereof is determined, and the risk of such price movements will be borne solely by the Authorized Participant. Such price movements may further frustrate efforts to effectively seize arbitrage opportunities. If this is the case, the liquidity of Shares may decline and the price of the Shares may fluctuate independently of the price of ether and may fall.

***The use of cash creations and redemptions, to the extent used by Authorized Participants, may adversely affect the arbitrage transactions by Authorized Participants intended to keep the price of the Shares closely linked to the price of ether and, as a result, the price of the Shares may fall or otherwise diverge from NAV.***

To the extent Authorized Participants effectuate creations and redemptions for cash, there may be delays in trade execution due to potential operational issues arising from implementing a cash creation and redemption model, which involves more complex operational steps (and therefore execution risk) than in-kind creation and redemption models. Such delays could cause the execution price associated with such trades to materially deviate from the Index price used to determine the NAV. Even though the Authorized Participant is responsible for the dollar cost of such difference in prices, Authorized Participants could default on their obligations to the Trust, or such potential risks and costs could lead Authorized Participants, who would otherwise be willing to purchase or redeem Baskets to take advantage of any arbitrage opportunity arising from discrepancies between the price of the Shares and the price of the underlying ether, to elect to not participate in the Trust's Share creation and redemption processes. This may adversely affect the arbitrage mechanism intended to keep the price of the Shares closely linked to the price of ether, and as a result, the price of the Shares may fall or otherwise diverge from NAV. If the arbitrage mechanism is not effective, purchases or sales of Shares on the secondary market could occur at a premium or discount to NAV, which could harm Shareholders by causing them to buy Shares at a price higher than the value of the underlying ether held by the Trust or sell Shares at a price lower than the value of the underlying ether held by the Trust, causing Shareholders to suffer losses.

***The Authorized Participants serve in such capacity for several competing exchange-traded ether products, which could adversely affect the Trust's operations and the secondary market for the Shares.***

Authorized Participants are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem Baskets with the Trust. The Trust may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as Authorized Participants, none of which are obligated to engage in creation and/or redemption transactions. Some or all of the Trust's Authorized Participants are expected to serve as authorized participants or market makers for one or more exchange-traded ether products that compete with the Trust. This may make it more difficult to engage or retain Authorized Participants for the Trust. There is no guarantee that the Trust will be able to attract Authorized Participants. Furthermore, decisions by Authorized Participants to reduce their role with respect to market making or creation and redemption activities during times of market stress, or a decline in the number of Authorized Participants due to decisions to exit the business, bankruptcy, competing products in the same asset class or other factors, could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying value of the Trust's ether and the market price of the Shares. To the extent that other Authorized Participants do not step forward to engage in creation and redemption orders, there may be a significantly diminished trading market for the Shares or the Shares may trade at a discount (or premium) to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or de-listing.

***Security threats and cyber-attacks could result in the halting of Trust operations and a loss of Trust assets or damage to the reputation of the Trust, each of which could result in a reduction in the price of the Shares.***

Security breaches, cyber-attacks, computer malware and computer hacking attacks have been a prevalent concern in relation to digital assets. Multiple thefts of ether and other digital assets from other holders have occurred in the past. Because of the pseudonymous nature of the Ethereum Blockchain, thefts can be difficult to trace, which may make ether a particularly attractive target for theft. Cyber security failures or breaches of one or more of the Trust's service providers (including, but not limited to, the Index Provider, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor, the Administrator, or the Custodian) have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs.

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The Trust and its service providers' use of internet, technology and information systems (including mobile devices and cloud-based service offerings) may expose the Trust to potential risks linked to cyber-security breaches of those technological or information systems. The Sponsor believes that the Trust's ether held in the Trust's account with the Custodian will be an appealing target to hackers or malware distributors seeking to destroy, damage or steal the Trust's ether or private keys and will only become more appealing as the Trust's assets grow. While the Trust, the Sponsor and the Custodian have implemented procedures to identify and or stop new security threats and expect to adapt to technological changes in the digital asset industry, to the extent such efforts are unsuccessful the Trust's ether may be subject to theft, loss, destruction or other attack.

Additionally, access to the Trust's ether could be restricted by natural events (such as an earthquake or flood) or human actions (such as a terrorist attack). The Sponsor has evaluated the security procedures in place for safeguarding the Trust's ether. Nevertheless, the security procedures cannot guarantee the prevention of any loss due to a security breach, software defect or act of God that may be borne by the Trust.

The security procedures and operational infrastructure may be breached due to the actions of outside parties, error or malfeasance of an employee of the Sponsor, the Custodian, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to the Trust's account with the Custodian, the private keys (and therefore ether) or other data of the Trust. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees of the Sponsor, the Custodian, or the Trust's other service providers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to the Trust's infrastructure. As the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently, or may be designed to remain dormant until a predetermined event and often are not recognized until launched against a target, the Sponsor and the Custodian may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures.

An actual or perceived breach of the Trust's account with the Custodian could harm the Trust's operations, result in partial or total loss of the Trust's assets, damage the Trust's reputation and negatively affect the market perception of the effectiveness of the Trust, all of which could in turn reduce demand for the Shares, resulting in a reduction in the price of the Shares. The Trust may also cease operations, the occurrence of which could similarly result in a reduction in the price of the Shares.

While the Sponsor and the Trust's service providers have established business continuity plans and systems that they respectively believe are reasonably designed to prevent cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been, or cannot be, identified. Service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Trust, which could be negatively impacted as a result, *see "Liability and Indemnification"* and *"Material Contracts"* below.

If the Trust's holdings of ether are lost, stolen or destroyed under circumstances rendering a party liable to the Trust, the responsible party may not have the financial resources sufficient to satisfy the Trust's claim. For example, as to a particular event of loss, the only source of recovery for the Trust may be limited to the relevant custodian or, to the extent identifiable, other responsible third parties (for example, a thief or terrorist), any of which may not have the financial resources (including liability insurance coverage) to satisfy a valid claim of the Trust. Similarly, as noted below, the Trust's Custodian has limited liability to the Trust, which could adversely affect the Trust's ability to seek recovery from them, even when the Custodian's actions or failure to act are the cause of the Trust's loss.

It may not be possible, either because of a lack of available policies or because of prohibitive cost, for the Trust to obtain insurance that would cover losses of the Trust's ether. If an uninsured loss occurs or a loss exceeds policy limits, the Trust could lose all of its assets.

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***The Trust's risk management processes and policies may prove to not be adequate to prevent any loss of the Trust's ether.***

Custody of digital assets presents inherent and unique risks relating to access loss, theft and means of recourse in such scenarios. These risks are applicable to the Trust's use of FDA, despite its status as an affiliate of the Sponsor. The Sponsor is continuing to monitor and evaluate the Trust's risk management processes and policies and believes that the current risk management processes and procedures are reasonably designed and effective. The Trust does not normally interact with any digital asset trading platforms, and the Trust's ether is held in a cold storage wallet with the Custodian, a national trust bank, pursuant to an express custodial relationship. The Sponsor believes that the security procedures that the Sponsor and the Custodian utilize, such as hardware redundancy, segregation and offline data storage (i.e., the maintenance of data on computers and/or storage media that is not directly connected to or accessible from the internet and/or networked with other computers, also known as "cold storage") protocols are reasonably designed to safeguard the Trust's ether from theft, loss, destruction or other issues relating to hackers and technological attack. Despite the number of security procedures that the Sponsor and Custodian employ, it is impossible to guarantee the prevention of any loss due to a security breach, software defect, act of God, pandemic or riot that may be borne by the Trust. Notwithstanding the above, the Sponsor and the Custodian are responsible for their own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. In the event that the Trust's risk management processes and policies prove to not be adequate to prevent any loss of the Trust's ether and such loss is not covered by insurance or is otherwise recoverable, the value of the Shares will decrease as a result and investors would experience a decrease in the value of their investment.

***The Trust's Custodian could become insolvent or become subject to a receivership or bankruptcy proceeding, which may result in a loss of or delay in access to Trust assets.***

If the Custodian becomes insolvent or subject to a receivership or bankruptcy proceeding, the Trust's operations may be adversely affected, and there is a risk that the insolvency, receivership or bankruptcy of the Custodian may result in the loss of all or a substantial portion of the Trust's assets or in a significant delay in the Trust having access to those assets.

The Trust's assets will be held in one or more accounts maintained for the Trust by the Custodian. The Custodian is a national trust bank and is subject to the supervision of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Custodial Services Agreement for Trust assets contains an agreement by the parties to treat the ether credited to the Trust as financial assets under Article 8 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code ("Article 8"), in addition to stating that the Custodian will serve as a securities intermediary with respect to such assets. Further, the Custodian has agreed to hold Trust assets for the benefit of the Trust as the entitlement holder, and while the Trust assets will be commingled with assets of the Custodian's other customers in an omnibus account, such assets will not be commingled with the Custodian's proprietary assets. While other types of assets held in a similarly-segregated manner have been deemed not to be part of the asset custodian's bankruptcy estate under various regulatory regimes, bankruptcy courts have not yet fully addressed the appropriate treatment of custodial holdings of digital assets and any such determination may be highly fact-specific.

Given that the contractual protections and legal rights of customers with respect to digital assets held on their behalf by third parties are relatively untested in a bankruptcy or receivership proceeding of an entity such as the Custodian, in the event of an insolvency, receivership or bankruptcy proceeding with respect to the Custodian, there is a risk that the Trust's assets may be considered the property of the bankruptcy estate of the Custodian, and that customers of the Custodian—including the Trust—may be at risk of being treated as general unsecured creditors of the Custodian and subject to the risk of total loss or markdowns on value of such assets. Moreover, even if the Trust's assets ultimately are not treated as part of the Custodian's bankruptcy estate, the automatic stay could apply until the bankruptcy court made such a determination, and the limited precedent and fact-dependent nature of the determination could delay or preclude the return of such assets to the Trust. Further, the bankruptcy court may permit the Custodian to retain possession or custody of its customers' assets until any claims the estate may have against the customers (including the Trust) are resolved.

An actual or perceived business failure or interruption, default, failure to perform security breach or other problems affecting the Custodian could harm the Trust's operations, result in partial or total loss of the Trust's assets, damage the Trust's reputation and negatively affect the market perception of the effectiveness of the Trust, all of which could in turn reduce demand for the Shares, resulting in a reduction in the price of the Shares.

The Trust may change the custodial arrangements described in this Annual Report at any time without notice to Shareholders.

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***Loss of a critical banking relationship for, or the failure of a bank used by, the Trust could adversely impact the Trust's ability to create or redeem Baskets, or could cause losses to the Trust.***

The Cash Custodian is necessary to facilitate the creation and redemption of Baskets (in exchange for cash subscriptions by Authorized Participants, or in exchange for redemptions of Shares by Authorized Participants), and other cash movements, including in connection with the purchase of ether by the Sponsor to effectuate subscriptions for cash and the selling of ether to effect redemptions for cash and, to the extent applicable, other Trust expenses, and in extraordinary circumstances, to effect the liquidation of the Trust's ether. The Trust relies on the Cash Custodian to hold any cash related to the purchase or sale of ether. To the extent that the Trust or Sponsor face difficulty establishing or maintaining banking relationships, the loss of the Trust's banking partners, including the Cash Custodian, or the imposition of operational restrictions by these banking partners and the inability of the Trust to utilize other financial institutions may result in a disruption of creation and redemption activity of the Trust, or cause other operational disruptions or adverse effects for the Trust. In the future, it is possible that the Trust could be unable to establish accounts at new banking partners, or that the banks with which the Trust is able to establish relationships may not be as large or well-capitalized or subject to the same degree of prudential supervision as the existing providers.

The Trust could also suffer losses in the event that a bank in which the Trust holds customer cash, including the Cash Custodian, fails, becomes insolvent, enters receivership, is taken over by regulators, enters financial distress, or otherwise suffers adverse effects to its financial condition or operational status. If the Cash Custodian were to experience financial distress or its financial condition is otherwise affected, the Cash Custodian's ability to provide services to the Trust could be affected. Moreover, the future failure of the Cash Custodian or other bank at which the Trust maintains cash could result in losses to the Trust, to the extent the balances are not covered by deposit insurance. As a result, the Trust could suffer losses.

***The Trust is subject to risks due to its concentration of investments in a single asset class.***

Unlike other funds that may invest in diversified assets, the Trust's investment strategy is concentrated in a single asset within a single asset class. This concentration maximizes the degree of the Trust's exposure to a variety of market risks associated with ether and digital assets. By concentrating its investment strategy solely in ether, any losses suffered as a result of a decrease in the value of ether can be expected to reduce the value of an interest in the Trust and will not be offset by other gains if the Trust were to invest in underlying assets that were diversified.

***The lack of active trading markets for the Shares may result in losses on Shareholders' investments at the time of disposition of Shares.***

Although Shares of the Trust are publicly listed and traded on an exchange, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Shares will be maintained. If Shareholders need to sell their Shares at a time when no active market for them exists, the price Shareholders receive for their Shares, assuming that Shareholders are able to sell them, may be lower than the price that Shareholders would receive if an active market did exist and, accordingly, a Shareholder may suffer losses.

***Several factors may affect the Trust's ability to achieve its investment objective on a consistent basis.***

There can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective. Prospective investors should read this entire Annual Report and consult with their own advisers before subscribing for Shares. Factors that may affect the Trust's ability to meet its investment objective include: (1) an Authorized Participant's, or its Authorized Participant Designee's, ability to transfer ether in an efficient manner to effectuate creation and redemption orders; (2) transaction fees associated with the Ethereum network; (3) the ether market becoming illiquid or disrupted; (4) the need to conform the Trust's portfolio holdings to comply with investment restrictions or policies or regulatory or tax law requirements; (5) early or unanticipated closings of the markets on which ether trades, resulting in the inability of such Authorized Participant, or its Authorized Participant Designee, to execute intended portfolio transactions; and (6) accounting standards.

***The amount of ether represented by the Shares will decline over time.***

Each outstanding Share represents a fractional, undivided interest in the ether held by the Trust. The Trust does not generate any income and transfers ether to pay for the Sponsor Fee and other liabilities. Therefore, the amount of ether represented by each Share will gradually decline over time. This is also true with respect to Shares that are issued in exchange for additional deposits of ether over time, as the amount of ether required to create Shares proportionally reflects the amount of ether represented by the Shares outstanding at the time of such creation unit being created. Assuming a constant ether price, the trading price of the Shares is expected to gradually decline relative to the price of ether as the amount of ether represented by the Shares gradually declines.

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Shareholders should be aware that the gradual decline in the amount of ether represented by the Shares will occur regardless of whether the trading price of the Shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of ether.

In addition, to the extent that the Trust incurs transaction expenses in connection with the creation and redemption process, litigation expenses, indemnification obligations under the Trust's service provider agreements and other Extraordinary Expenses that are not Sponsor-paid Expenses, such expenses will be borne by the Trust. To the extent that the Trust fails to attract a sufficiently large amount of investors, the effect of such expenses on the value of the Shares may be significantly greater than would be the case if the Trust had attracted more assets.

***The Sponsor may need to find and appoint a replacement custodian quickly, which could pose a challenge to the safekeeping of the Trust's ether.***

The Sponsor could decide to replace the Custodian as the custodian of the Trust's ether, or the Custodian may cease providing the custodial services necessary for the Trust's normal operations. For example, the Trust's custodian may become insolvent and enter bankruptcy or receivership proceedings, or discontinue business operations with little or no warning to the Sponsor or the Trust. Transferring maintenance responsibilities of the Trust's account with the Custodian to another party will likely be complex and could subject the Trust's ether to the risk of loss during the transfer, which could have a negative impact on the performance of the Shares or result in loss of the Trust's assets.

The Sponsor may not be able to find a party willing to serve as the custodian under the same terms as the current Custodial Services Agreement. To the extent that Sponsor is not able to find a suitable party willing to serve as the custodian, the Sponsor may be required to terminate the Trust and liquidate the Trust's ether.

***Limited recourse*.**

The Custodian has limited liability for any loss, claim, or damage to the Trust, impairing the ability of the Trust to recover losses relating to its ether and any recovery may be limited, except to the extent of a final, non- appealable judicial determination that such loss, claim or damage directly resulted from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of the Custodian. In addition, the Custodian is generally not be liable for any loss caused, directly or indirectly, by the failure of the Trust to adhere to the Custodian's policies and procedures that have been disclosed to the Trust, a force majeure event or certain actions determined by the Custodian to be necessary or advisable to inspect and protect the security of the Trust's assets. Furthermore, the Custodian is generally not liable for a loss caused, directly or indirectly, by any failure or delay to act by any service provider to the Custodian or any system failure (other than a system failure caused by the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of the Custodian or the Custodian's affiliates), that prevents the Custodian from fulfilling its obligations.

Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee and the Sponsor will not be liable for any liability or expense incurred absent fraud, gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee or the Sponsor or breach by the Sponsor of the Trust Agreement, as the case may be. As a result, the recourse of the Trust or the Shareholder to Trustee or the Sponsor may be limited.

The Index Provider has limited liability relating to the use of the Index, impairing the ability of the Trust to recover losses relating to its use of the Index. The Index Provider does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or performance of the Index or the data included therein and shall have no liability in connection with the Index or index calculation, errors, omissions or interruptions of any Fidelity index or any data included therein. The Index could be calculated now or in the future in a way that adversely affects an investment in the Trust.

The Calculation Agent also has limited liability, impairing the ability of the Trust to recover losses relating to the calculation of the Index.

***The value of the Shares will be adversely affected if the Trust is required to indemnify the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Transfer Agent or the Custodian.***

Each of the Sponsor, the Trustee, the Transfer Agent and the Custodian has a right to be indemnified by the Trust for certain liabilities or expenses that it incurs without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part. Therefore, the Sponsor, Trustee, Transfer Agent or the Custodian may require that the assets of the Trust be sold in order to cover losses or liability suffered by it. Any sale of that kind would reduce the ether holdings of the Trust and the value of the Shares.

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***Intellectual property rights claims may adversely affect the Trust and the value of the Shares.***

The Sponsor is not aware of any intellectual property rights claims that may prevent the Trust from operating and holding ether. However, third parties may assert intellectual property rights claims relating to the operation of the Trust and the mechanics instituted for the investment in, holding of and transfer of ether. Regardless of the merit of an intellectual property or other legal action, any legal expenses to defend or payments to settle such claims would be Extraordinary Expenses that would be borne by the Trust through the sale or transfer of its ether and any threatened action that reduces confidence in long-term viability or the ability of end-users to hold and transfer ether may adversely affect the value of the Shares. Additionally, a meritorious intellectual property rights claim could prevent the Trust from operating and force the Sponsor to terminate the Trust and liquidate its ether. As a result, an intellectual property rights claim against the Trust could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***Unforeseeable risks*.**

Ether has gained commercial acceptance only within recent years and, as a result, there is little data on its long-term investment potential. Additionally, due to the rapidly evolving nature of the ether market, including advancements in the underlying technology, changes to ether may expose investors in the Trust to additional risks which are impossible to predict.

***The Sponsor's policies and procedures may not fully mitigate the risk of conflicts of interest.***

The Sponsor does not have operating practices that require personnel to pre-clear personal trading activity in which ether is the referenced asset. In general, pre-clearance policies prohibit employees and agents from engaging in certain personal trading activity without first obtaining pre-clearance of the transaction from the firm's chief compliance officer, chief financial officer, or some senior officer with similar responsibilities.

Without implementing pre-clearance requirements, the Sponsor may not be able to fully mitigate the risk of conflicts of interest or avoid the appearance of impropriety in connection with the purchase and sale of ether. There is no guarantee that every employee, officer, director, or similar person associated with the Sponsor, or its affiliates will refrain from engaging in insider trading in violation of their duties to the Trust and Sponsor.

This risk is present in traditional financial markets and is not unique to ether. If such employees or others affiliated with the Sponsor engage in illegal conduct or conduct which fails to meet applicable regulatory standards, the Sponsor and its affiliates could be the target of civil or criminal fines, penalties, punishments, or other regulatory sanctions or lawsuits or could be the target of an investigation. Any of these outcomes could cause the Trust and Shareholders to suffer harm.

The Sponsor and its affiliates may also participate in transactions related to ether, either for their own account (subject to certain internal employee trading operating practices) or for the account of others, such as clients, and such transactions may occur prior to, during, or after the commencement of this offering. Such transactions may not serve to benefit the Shareholders of the Trust and may have a positive or negative effect on the value of the ether held by the Trust and, consequently, on the market value of ether.

***Potential conflicts of interest may arise among the Sponsor or its affiliates and the Trust. The Sponsor and its affiliates have no fiduciary duties to the Trust and its Shareholders other than as provided in the Trust Agreement, which may permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of the Trust and its Shareholders.***

The Sponsor will manage the affairs of the Trust. Conflicts of interest may arise among the Sponsor and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Trust and its Shareholders, on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, the Sponsor may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates over the Trust and its Shareholders. These potential conflicts include, among others, the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Sponsor has no fiduciary duties to, and is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than, the Trust and its Shareholders in resolving conflicts of interest, provided the Sponsor does not act in bad faith;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Trust has agreed to indemnify the Sponsor, the Trustee and their respective affiliates pursuant to the Trust Agreement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Sponsor is responsible for allocating its own limited resources among different clients and potential future business ventures, to each of which it may owe fiduciary duties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Sponsor and its staff also service affiliates of the Sponsor, and may also service other digital asset investment vehicles, and their respective clients and cannot devote all of its, or their, respective time or resources to the management of the affairs of the Trust;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Fidelity Product Services LLC, the Index Provider of the Fidelity Ethereum Reference Rate, Fidelity Digital Asset Services, N.A., the Custodian of the Trust, and Fidelity Service Company, Inc., the Administrator of the Trust, are all affiliates of the Sponsor, and as such the Sponsor is disincentivized from replacing them as the Trust's service providers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Sponsor, its affiliates and their officers and employees are not prohibited from engaging in other businesses or activities, including those that might be in direct competition with the Trust;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•affiliates of the Sponsor may start to have substantial direct investments in ether, or other digital assets or companies in the digital assets ecosystem that they are permitted to manage taking into account their own interests without regard to the interests of the Trust or its Shareholders, and any increases, decreases or other changes in such investments could affect the Index price and, in turn, the value of the Shares; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the Sponsor decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for the Trust.

By purchasing the Shares, Shareholders agree and consent to the provisions set forth in the Trust Agreement.

**Risks Associated with the Index and Index Pricing**

The Index was developed by an affiliate of the Sponsor, the Index Provider. The Index Provider has substantial discretion at any time to change the methodology used to calculate the Index, including the spot markets that contribute prices to the Trust's NAV. Any such changes could affect the present, past and expected levels of the Index and could adversely affect performance of the Index. The Index Provider does not have any obligation to take the needs of the Trust, the Trust's Shareholders, or anyone else into consideration in connection with such changes. There is no guarantee that the methodology currently used in calculating the Index will appropriately track the price of ether in the future. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of the Trust or the Shareholders into consideration in determining, composing, or calculating the Index. By investing in the Trust, Shareholders will have no rights against the Index Provider or any other persons that have discretion over the Index, even though these entities administer, oversee and determine the Index.

Pricing sources used by the Index are digital asset spot markets that facilitate the buying and selling of ether and other digital assets. Although many pricing sources refer to themselves as "exchanges," they are not registered with, or supervised by, the SEC or CFTC and do not meet the regulatory standards of a national securities exchange or designated contract market. For these reasons, among others, purchases and sales of ether may be subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets and government regulation and intervention. These circumstances could affect the price of ether used in Index calculations and, therefore, could adversely affect the level of the Index.

The Index is based on various inputs which include price data from various third-party ether spot markets. The Index Provider does not guarantee the validity of any of these inputs, which may be subject to technological error, manipulative activity, or fraudulent reporting from their initial source.

***Right to change index*.**

The Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may cause the Trust to track (or price its portfolio based upon) an index or standard other than the Index at any time, with notice to the Shareholders, if investment conditions change or the Sponsor believes that another index or standard better reflects the price of ether. The Sponsor, however, is under no obligation whatsoever to make such changes in any circumstance.

***Risks related to pricing*.**

As set forth under "*Item 1. Business* — [*<u>Calculation of Net Asset Value</u>*](#calculation_of_nav)", the Trust's portfolio will be priced, including for purposes of determining the NAV, based upon the VWMP of ether used for the calculation of the Index as of the time of such valuation.

Using a VWMP methodology and price feeds from eligible ether spot markets, the Index intends to represent the U.S. dollar value of one ether every 15 seconds based on VWMP spot market data over rolling sixty-minute increments. As such, the VWMP methodology used to determine the NAV may not be reflective of market events and other developments that occur after its pricing window and thus this methodology may not be reflective of the then-available market price of ether in periods between its calculation. Additionally, as the methodology references a median price, it may not reflect the price of ether available for the Trust to transact on any single spot market. The Sponsor does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, to determine whether the methodology used to determine the level of the Index accurately reflects the value of ether or the price at which market transactions in ether could be readily effected at any given time.

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Because the NAV of the Trust will be based almost entirely on the value of the Trust's ether portfolio as determined by such VWMP methodology, and subscriptions and redemptions are processed based on the NAV of the Trust, if the methodology does not reflect the market value of ether at a given time, subscription and redemption transactions will be effected at prices that may adversely affect the Trust.

The NAV of the Trust will change as fluctuations occur in the market price of the Trust's ether holdings. Shareholders should be aware that the public trading price per Share may be different from the NAV for a number of reasons, including price volatility, trading activity, the closing of ether trading platforms due to fraud, failure, security breaches or otherwise, and the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for Shares are related, but not identical, to the supply and demand forces influencing the market price of ether.

An Authorized Participant may be able to create or redeem a Basket at a discount or a premium to the public trading price per Share and the Trust will therefore maintain its intended fractional exposure to a specific amount of ether per Share.

Shareholders also should note that the size of the Trust in terms of total ether held may change substantially over time and as Baskets are created and redeemed.

In the event that the value of the Trust's ether holdings or ether holdings per Share is incorrectly calculated, neither the Sponsor nor the Administrator will be liable for any error and such misreporting of valuation data could adversely affect the value of the Shares.

**Regulatory Risk**

As ether and digital assets have grown in both popularity and market size, the U.S. Congress and a number of U.S. federal and state agencies have been examining the operations of digital asset networks, digital asset users and the digital asset spot market. Many of these state and federal agencies have brought enforcement actions and issued advisories and rules relating to digital asset markets. The SEC had charged certain large U.S. digital asset trading platforms of supporting trading and settlement of securities in violation of the U.S. federal securities laws. Specifically, the SEC alleged that these exchanges are operating as unregistered securities exchanges, brokers and clearing agencies. For example, on June 5, 2023, the SEC filed lawsuits against cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Binance alleging, among other things, their operation of an unlicensed securities exchange. Although the SEC has not alleged that ether is a security, the outcome of these enforcement actions and others may result in the substantial restructuring of the digital asset market in the United States. Moreover, until these actions are resolved, the structure of the digital asset market in the United States will remain subject to substantial regulatory risk, which may impact the demand for digital assets and the continued availability of existing exchanges and offerings. The U.S. Congress is also actively preparing new legislation to address certain market structure issues relating to digital assets and stablecoins. The outcome of this legislation is unknown. Both the outcome of the pending SEC enforcement actions and federal legislation are highly uncertain and may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the nature of an investment in the Shares and/or the ability of the Trust to continue to operate.

Although neither the SEC nor the CFTC has exerted direct authority over ether or ether spot trading activity, the SEC and CFTC have broad authority over the regulation of issuances of securities (including digital asset securities) and commodity interests (including derivative instruments utilizing or referencing digital assets). The SEC and CFTC's engagement with the digital asset industry has had a material impact on the development of digital asset markets, including initial coin offerings, margin trading, regulated and unregulated derivatives markets, and decentralized finance markets. For example, the SEC has issued guidance as to the application of the securities laws to digital assets and initiated enforcement actions against certain digital asset issuers and offerings on the basis that such digital assets and offerings are securities under U.S. securities laws. In these actions, the SEC reasoned that the unregistered offer and sale of digital assets can, in certain circumstances, including ICOs, be considered an illegal public offering of securities. Similarly, the CFTC, together with the Department of Justice, has initiated enforcement actions against digital asset trading platforms relating to violations of the CEA, on the basis that such platforms engaged in illegal, off-exchange retail commodity transactions in digital assets and digital asset derivative transactions. Further enforcement actions against participants in the digital asset industry could have negative impacts on the price of digital assets, including ether.

In August 2021, the previous chair of the SEC, stated that he believed investors using digital asset trading platforms are not adequately protected, and that activities on the platforms can implicate the securities laws, commodities laws and banking laws, raising a number of issues related to protecting investors and consumers, guarding against illicit activity, and ensuring financial stability. It is not possible to predict whether the U.S. Congress will grant additional authorities to the SEC or other regulators, what the nature of such additional authorities might be, how they might impact the ability of digital assets markets to function or how any new regulations that may flow from such authorities might impact the value of digital assets generally and ether held by the Trust specifically.

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On January 21, 2025, the SEC's acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda announced the SEC Crypto Task Force. The task force has an objective of developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets. Following the task force announcement, on January 23, 2025, President Trump executed the Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology Executive Order. It is currently unknown how the actions or recommendations of the task force and this Executive Order or future governmental actions may impact the status of ether or any other digital asset as a "security" or how ether or the Trust would be treated under any new or revised regulatory framework.

In addition to the SEC's actions targeting digital assets and trading platforms directly, the SEC has also targeted regulated investments that provide exposure to digital assets indirectly. For example, in a letter regarding the SEC's review of proposed rule changes to list and trade shares of certain ether-related investment vehicles on public markets, the SEC staff stated that it has significant investor protection concerns regarding the markets for digital assets, including the potential for market manipulation and fraud. In March 2018, it was reported that the SEC was examining as many as 100 investment funds with strategies focused on digital assets. The reported focus of the examinations is on the accuracy of risk disclosures to investors in these funds, digital asset pricing practices, and compliance with rules meant to prevent the theft of investor funds, as well as on information gathering so that the SEC can better understand new technologies and investment products.

In May 2025, the staff of the Division of Trading and Markets of the SEC released guidance in the form of frequently asked questions relating to crypto asset activities. The SEC staff's guidance addressed several key points for broker-dealers acting as Authorized Participants. According to the guidance, broker-dealers may custody non-security crypto assets and may treat crypto asset securities as being held at a permissible "control location" under 1934 Act Rule 15c3-3(c). The guidance also clarified that broker-dealers may conduct non-security crypto asset businesses, including facilitating transactions in crypto asset securities that settle in crypto rather than cash. In addition, broker-dealers may hold crypto assets as proprietary positions for net capital purposes, subject to applicable haircuts and other limitations. Furthermore, the SEC staff indicated that broker-dealers may engage in in-kind creations and redemptions for spot crypto exchange-traded products. However, this guidance is non-binding, and may be modified, superseded, or withdrawn at any time without notice, as emphasized in the guidance. Additionally, there is no guarantee that Authorized Participants will actually transact in-kind at all despite this guidance.

OFAC has added digital currency addresses to the list of Specially Designated Nationals whose assets are blocked, and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing. Such actions by OFAC, or by similar organizations in other jurisdictions, may introduce uncertainty in the market as to whether ether that has been associated with such addresses in the past can be easily sold. This "tainted" ether may trade at a substantial discount to untainted ether. Reduced fungibility in the ether markets may reduce the liquidity of ether and therefore adversely affect its price.

In December 2020, FinCEN, a bureau within the U.S. Treasury Department, proposed a rule that would require financial institutions to submit reports, keep records, and verify the identity of customers for certain transactions to or from so-called "unhosted" wallets, also commonly referred to as self-hosted wallets. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Treasury proposed new rules potentially requiring businesses to record transactions in digital assets that exceed $10,000 in value. It remains unclear if these proposed rules will ultimately be adopted.

President Trump's January 23, 2025 Executive Order, titled "Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology, aimed to reorient the federal government's approach to digital assets. The Executive Order emphasized the importance of the digital asset industry in innovation and economic development, and outlined policies to support the growth and use of digital assets, blockchain technology and related technologies. President Trump's order also revoked former President Biden's March 9, 2022 Executive Order, titled, "Responsible Development of Digital Assets" and the U.S. Department of Treasury's July 7, 2022 "Framework for International Engagement of Digital Assets" and all policies, directives and guidance issued pursuant to those items produced by the previous administration. The consequences of federal regulation of digital assets and digital asset activities could have a material adverse effect on the Trust and the Shares. If the Sponsor determines not to comply with such regulatory and registration requirements, it may seek to cease certain or all of the Trust's operations. Any such action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The entire cryptocurrency industry experienced a significant drawdown in 2022, particularly throughout the latter half of the year. The decline was due to numerous factors, including a slowing macroeconomic environment, rising interest rates, expiring pandemic financial assistance, and the public collapse of several major industry participants, including Three Arrows Capital, Voyager, Celsius, and most recently, FTX and Genesis. The cryptocurrency industry's turbulent drawdown in 2022 is expected to draw increased regulatory scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, SEC, and CFTC.

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Under regulations from the New York State Department of Financial Services ("NYDFS"), businesses involved in certain digital asset business activity involving New York or a New York resident must apply for a license, commonly known as a BitLicense, from the NYDFS and must comply with anti-money laundering, cyber security, consumer protection, and financial and reporting requirements, among others. As an alternative to a BitLicense, a firm can apply for a charter to become a limited purpose trust company under New York law qualified to engage in digital asset business activity. Other states have considered or approved digital asset business activity statutes or rules, passing, for example, regulations or guidance indicating that certain digital asset business activities constitute money transmission requiring licensure. The regulation of digital asset activity under state money transmission laws varies substantially. Differences between state regimes increase the complexity and compliance burden of operating digital asset businesses across the U.S., which may affect consumer adoption of ether and its price. In an attempt to address these issues, the Uniform Law Commission passed a model law in July 2017, the Uniform Regulation of Virtual Currency Businesses Act, which has many similarities to the BitLicense and features a multistate reciprocity licensure feature, wherein a business licensed in one state could apply for accelerated licensure procedures in other states. As of December 31, 2025, only California, Louisiana and Rhode Island have adopted the model law, while Iowa has introduced the model law. It is still unclear; however, how many states will ultimately adopt some or all of the model legislation.

In 2025, Congress undertook significant legislative efforts to address the rapidly evolving landscape of digital assets and cryptocurrencies, culminating in the passage of two landmark bills: the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (the "CLARITY Act") and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (the "GENIUS Act"). These legislative actions represent the first comprehensive federal frameworks for the regulation of digital assets and stablecoins in the United States.

The CLARITY Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives but awaits consideration by the Senate, was designed to resolve longstanding regulatory uncertainty regarding the classification and oversight of digital assets. The CLARITY Act establishes a clear framework for distinguishing between digital assets that are securities, commodities, or payment stablecoins. It delineates the respective jurisdictions of the SEC and the CFTC, granting the CFTC exclusive authority over "digital commodities" and the SEC authority over "digital securities." The CLARITY Act also introduces criteria for determining when a digital asset is sufficiently decentralized to be treated as a commodity rather than a security.

In addition, the CLARITY Act imposes registration requirements and operational standards for digital asset intermediaries, including exchanges, brokers, and dealers. It mandates consumer protection measures, anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) compliance, and enhanced disclosure obligations. The Act aims to foster innovation while providing market participants with greater regulatory certainty and aligning U.S. policy with emerging international standards.

The GENIUS Act, signed into law in July 2025, establishes the first federal regulatory framework for the issuance and operation of payment stablecoins—digital assets designed to maintain a stable value relative to a fiat currency, such as the U.S. dollar. The GENIUS Act requires that all payment stablecoins be fully backed on a one-to-one basis by high-quality liquid assets, such as U.S. dollars or short-term U.S. Treasury securities, and subjects issuers to rigorous reserve, audit, and disclosure requirements.

The GENIUS Act introduces a dual licensing regime, allowing stablecoin issuers to operate under either federal or state regulatory oversight, provided that state regimes are "substantially similar" to federal standards. Issuers with more than $10 billion in outstanding stablecoins must obtain a federal license. The GENIUS Act also imposes strict AML, sanctions compliance, and consumer protection obligations, including prioritizing stablecoin holders' claims in the event of issuer insolvency. Notably, the Act prohibits non-financial public companies from issuing stablecoins without special approval and restricts the payment of interest or yield on stablecoins.

These legislative efforts were accompanied by additional measures, such as the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a retail central bank digital currency without congressional authorization. While the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act represent significant progress toward a comprehensive regulatory regime for digital assets, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the implementation and interpretation of these new laws. The effectiveness of these frameworks will depend on subsequent rulemaking by federal and state regulators, interagency coordination, and the evolving approach to enforcement. Market participants may face transitional risks as regulatory standards are developed and applied, and there is potential for further legislative or regulatory changes as the digital asset ecosystem continues to evolve.

The continued evolution of federal, state and foreign government regulators and policymakers will continue to impact the viability and success of digital asset markets, broadly, and ether, specifically.

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***Shareholders do not have the protections associated with ownership of shares in an investment company registered under the 1940 Act or commodity pools under the Commodity Exchange Act.***

The 1940 Act establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for investment companies. Regulation of investment companies under the 1940 Act is designed to, among other things: prevent insiders from managing the companies to their benefit and to the detriment of public investors; prevent the inequitable or discriminate issuance of investment company securities and prevent the use of unsound or misleading methods of computing asset values. For example, registered investment companies subject to the 1940 Act must have a board of directors, a certain minimum percentage of whom must be independent (generally, at least a majority). Further, after an initial two-year period, such registered investment companies' advisory and sub-advisory contracts must be annually reapproved by a majority of (1) the entire board of directors and (2) the independent directors. Additionally, such registered investment companies are subject to prohibitions and restrictions on transactions with their affiliates and required to maintain fund assets with special types of custodians (generally, banks or broker-dealers). Moreover, such registered investment companies are subject to significant limits on the use of leverage, as well as limits on the form of capital structure and the types of securities a registered fund can issue.

The Trust is not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and the Sponsor believes that the Trust is not permitted or required to register under such act. Consequently, Shareholders do not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in investment companies.

The Trust will not hold or trade in commodity interests regulated by the CEA, as administered by the CFTC. Furthermore, the Sponsor believes that the Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the CEA, and that neither the Sponsor nor the Trustee is subject to regulation by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator or a commodity trading advisor in connection with the operation of the Trust. Consequently, Shareholders will not have the regulatory protections provided to investors in CEA-regulated instruments or commodity pools.

***Future and current regulations by a United States or foreign government or quasi-governmental agencies could have an adverse effect on an investment in the Trust.***

The regulation of ether and related products and services continues to evolve, may take many different forms and will, therefore, impact ether and its usage in a variety of manners. The inconsistent, unpredictable, and sometimes conflicting regulatory landscape may make it more difficult for ether businesses to provide services, which may impede the growth of the ether economy and have an adverse effect on consumer adoption of ether. There is a possibility of future regulatory change altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Trust or the ability of the Trust to continue to operate. Additionally, changes to current regulatory determinations of ether's status as not being a security, changes to regulations surrounding ether futures or related products, or actions by a United States or foreign government or quasi-governmental agencies exerting regulatory authority over ether, the Ethereum network, ether trading, or related activities impacting other parts of the digital asset market, may adversely impact ether and therefore may have an adverse effect on the value of your investment in the Trust.

Ether and other digital assets currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape in many foreign jurisdictions such as the European Union, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Russia, Israel, Poland, India, Hong Kong, Canada and Singapore. Cybersecurity attacks by state actors, particularly for the purpose of evading international economic sanctions, are likely to attract additional regulatory scrutiny to the acquisition, ownership, sale and use of digital assets, including ether. The effect of any existing regulation or future regulatory change on the Trust or ether is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and adverse to the Trust and the value of the Shares.

Various foreign jurisdictions have adopted, and may continue to adopt in the near future, laws, regulations or directives that affect ether, particularly with respect to ether spot markets, trading venues and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions' regulatory scope. Such laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the United States and may negatively impact the acceptance of ether by users, merchants and service providers outside the United States and may therefore impede the growth or sustainability of the ether economy in these jurisdictions as well as in the United States and elsewhere, or otherwise negatively affect the value of ether, and, in turn, the value of the Shares.

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***Future regulations may require the Trust or the Sponsor to become registered, which may cause the Trust to liquidate.***

Current and future legislation, SEC and CFTC rulemaking, and other regulatory developments may impact the manner in which ether is treated. While the SEC has not officially affirmed that ether is not a security under U.S. federal securities laws, public statements by senior officials at the SEC, including a June 2018 speech by the director of the SEC's division of Corporation Finance, indicate that such officials do not believe that ether is a security; however, more recently, statements by other SEC officials have shown reluctance to agree with that assessment Such statements are not official policy statements by the SEC and reflect only the speaker's views, which are not binding on the SEC or any other agency or court. If ether is determined to be a "security" under federal or state securities laws by the SEC or any other agency, or in a proceeding in a court of law or otherwise, it may have material adverse consequences for ether's utility as a means of exchange and accordingly for its continued adoption. In the face of such developments, the required registrations and compliance steps may result in extraordinary, nonrecurring expenses to the Trust. Specifically, the Trust and the Sponsor may be subject to additional regulatory requirements including under the 1940 Act, and the Sponsor may be required to register as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act. If the Sponsor determines not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, the Sponsor will terminate the Trust. Any such termination could result in the liquidation of the Trust's ether at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders. Alternatively, compliance with these requirements could result in additional expenses to the Trust or significantly limit the ability of the Trust to pursue its investment objective. These additional requirements may result in extraordinary, recurring and/or nonrecurring expenses of the Trust, thereby materially and adversely impacting the Shares. If the Sponsor and/or the Trust determines not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, the Sponsor may terminate the Trust. Any such termination could result in the liquidation of the Trust's ether at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders.

***If regulatory changes or interpretations of an Authorized Participant's, the Trust's or the Sponsor's activities require the regulation of an Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor as a money services business under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act or as a money transmitter or digital asset business under state regimes for the licensing of such businesses, an Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor may be required to register and comply with such regulations, which could result in extraordinary, recurring and/or nonrecurring expenses to the Authorized Participant, Trust or Sponsor or increased commissions for the Authorized Participant's clients, thereby reducing the liquidity of the Shares.***

To the extent that the activities of any Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor cause it to be deemed a "money services business" under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, such Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor may be required to comply with FinCEN regulations, including those that would mandate the implementation of an anti-money laundering program, the submission of certain reports to FinCEN and the maintenance of certain records. Similarly, the activities of an Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor may require it to be licensed as a money transmitter or as a digital asset business, such as under NYDFS' BitLicense regulation.

Such additional regulatory obligations may cause the Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor to incur Extraordinary Expenses. If the Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor decide to seek the required licenses, there is no guarantee that they will receive them in a timely manner. In addition, to the extent an Authorized Participant, the Trust, or the Sponsor is found to have operated without appropriate state or federal licenses, it may be subject to investigation, administrative or court proceedings, and civil or criminal monetary fines and penalties or other remediation, all of which could harm the reputation of the Authorized Participant, the Trust or the Sponsor and affect the value of the Shares. Furthermore, an Authorized Participant, the Trust, or the Sponsor may not be able to acquire necessary state licenses or be capable of complying with certain federal or state regulatory obligations applicable to money services businesses, money transmitters, and businesses engaged in digital asset activity in a timely manner. The Authorized Participant may also instead decide to terminate its role as Authorized Participant of the Trust, or the Sponsor may decide to terminate the Trust. Termination by the Authorized Participant may decrease the liquidity of the Shares, which may adversely affect the value of the Shares, and any termination of the Trust in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to the Shareholders.

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**Tax Risk**

***The ongoing activities of the Trust may generate tax liabilities for Shareholders.***

As described below under *"United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—Taxation of U.S. Shareholders,"* it is expected that each Shareholder will include in the computation of their taxable income their proportionate share of the taxable income and expenses of the Trust and amounts realized in connection with the use of ether or the sale of ether to pay Trust expenses or facilitate redemption transactions. The Trust does not anticipate making distributions to Shareholders, so any tax liability that a Shareholder incurs as a result of holding Shares will need to be satisfied from some other source of funds. Sales of ether to fund cash redemptions are expected to result in gains or losses, with such gains or losses expected to be treated as incurred by the Shareholder that is being redeemed. These gains or losses generally would equal the difference between the amount realized from the sale of the ether and the Shareholder's tax basis for the portion of the Shareholder's pro rata share of the ether held in the Trust that is sold to fund the redemption, as determined in the manner described above. A redemption of some or all of a Shareholder's Shares in exchange for the cash received from such sale is not expected to be treated as a separate taxable event for the Shareholder. Shareholders receiving a redemption in kind will not generally be taxed on the distribution in kind. If a Shareholders sells Shares in order to raise funds to satisfy such a tax liability, the sale itself may generate additional taxable gain or loss.

***The tax treatment of ether and transactions involving ether for United States federal income tax purposes may change.***

Under current IRS guidance, ether is treated as property, not as currency, for U.S. federal income tax purposes and transactions involving payment in ether in return for goods and services are treated as barter exchanges. Such exchanges result in capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the price at which ether is exchanged and the taxpayer's basis in the ether. However, because ether is a new technological innovation, because IRS guidance has taken the form of administrative pronouncements that may be modified without prior notice and comment, and because there is as yet little case law on the subject, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in ether or in transactions relating to investments in ether may change from that described in this Annual Report, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change in the U.S. federal income tax treatment of ether may have a negative effect on prices of ether and may adversely affect the value of the Shares. In this regard, the IRS has indicated that it has made it a priority to issue additional guidance related to the taxation of virtual currency transactions, such as transactions involving ether. While it has started to issue such additional guidance, whether any future guidance will adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in ether or in transactions relating to investments in ether is unknown. Moreover, future developments that may arise with respect to digital currencies may increase the uncertainty with respect to the treatment of digital currencies for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

***The tax treatment of ether and transactions involving ether for state and local tax purposes is not settled.***

Because ether is a new technological innovation, the tax treatment of ether for state and local tax purposes, including, without limitation state and local income and sales and use taxes, is not settled. It is uncertain what guidance, if any, on the treatment of ether for state and local tax purposes may be issued in the future. A state or local government authority's treatment of ether may have negative consequences, including the imposition of a greater tax burden on investors in ether or the imposition of a greater cost on the acquisition and disposition of ether generally. Any such treatment may have a negative effect on prices of ether and may adversely affect the value of the Shares.

***A hard "fork" of the Ethereum Blockchain could result in Shareholders incurring a tax liability.***

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***The intended tax treatment of the Trust will limit the flexibility of the Trust's investment decisions.***

The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust for Federal income tax purposes. A grantor trust is not permitted to change the investment of the Shareholders to take advantage of market fluctuations. Thus, the Sponsor may allow the Trust to hold when an actively managed fund would sell. The Sponsor may distribute proceeds when an actively managed fund would reinvest the proceeds. In addition, a fund treated as a grantor trust may not participate in trading or lending activity without raising a risk of change in status. This means that the returns of the Trust may be less than a successfully actively managed fund.

**Other Risks**

***The Exchange on which the Shares are listed may halt trading in the Trust's Shares, which would adversely impact a Shareholder's ability to sell Shares.***

The Trust's Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange under the market symbol "FETH." Trading in Shares may be halted due to market conditions or, in light of the Exchange rules and procedures, for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading is subject to trading halts or pauses caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to "circuit breaker" rules and/or "limit up/limit down" rules that require trading to be halted or paused for a specified period based on a specified market decline. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Trust's Shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

***The liquidity of the Shares may also be affected by the withdrawal from participation of Authorized Participants, which could adversely affect the market price of the Shares.***

In the event that one or more Authorized Participants or market makers that have substantial interests in the Trust's Shares withdraw or "step away" from participation in the purchase (creation) or sale (redemption) of the Trust's Shares, the liquidity of the Shares will likely decrease, which could adversely affect the market price of the Shares and result in Shareholders incurring a loss on their investment.

***The market infrastructure of the ether spot market could result in the absence of active Authorized Participants able to support the trading activity of the Trust.***

Ether is extremely volatile, and concerns exist about the stability, reliability and robustness of many spot markets where ether trade. In a highly volatile market, or if one or more spot markets supporting the ether market faces an issue, it could be extremely challenging for any Authorized Participants to provide continuous liquidity in the Shares. There can be no guarantee that the Sponsor will be able to find an Authorized Participant to actively and continuously support the Trust.

***Shareholders that are not Authorized Participants may only purchase or sell their Shares in secondary trading markets, and the conditions associated with trading in secondary markets may adversely affect Shareholders' investment in the Shares.***

Only Authorized Participants may create or redeem Baskets. All other Shareholders that desire to purchase or sell Shares must do so through the Exchange or in other markets, if any, in which the Shares may be traded. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to the NAV per Share.

***The Sponsor relies heavily on key personnel.***

The Sponsor relies heavily on key personnel to manage its activities. These key personnel intend to allocate their time managing the Trust in a manner that they deem appropriate. If such key personnel were to leave or be unable to carry out their present responsibilities, it may have an adverse effect on the management of the Sponsor.

Shareholders have no right or power to take part in the management of the Trust. Accordingly, no investor should purchase Shares unless such investor is willing to entrust all aspects of the management of the Trust to the Trustee and the Sponsor.

Additionally, there can be no assurance that all of the personnel who provide services to the Trust will continue to be associated with the Trust for any length of time. The loss of the services of one or more such individuals could have an adverse impact on the Trust's ability to realize its investment objective.

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***The Trust is new, and if it is not profitable, the Trust may terminate and liquidate at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders.***

The Trust is new. If the Trust does not attract sufficient assets to remain open, or if the trust experiences excessive withdrawals, then the Trust could be terminated and liquidated at the direction of the Sponsor (or required to do so because it is delisted by the Exchange). Termination and liquidation of the Trust could occur at a time that is disadvantageous to Shareholders. When the Trust's assets are sold as part of the Trust's liquidation, the resulting proceeds distributed to Shareholders may be less than those that may be realized in a sale outside of a liquidation context.

***Shareholders do not have the rights enjoyed by investors in certain other vehicles and may be adversely affected by a lack of statutory rights and by limited voting and distribution rights.***

The Shares have limited voting and distribution rights. For example, Shareholders do not have the right to elect directors, the Trust may enact splits or reverse splits without Shareholder approval, and the Trust is not required to pay regular distributions, although the Trust may pay distributions at the discretion of the Sponsor.

***Shareholders may be adversely affected by creation or redemption orders that are subject to postponement, suspension or rejection under certain circumstances.***

The Trust may, in its discretion, suspend the right of creation or redemption or may postpone the redemption or purchase settlement date, for (1) any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which the fulfillment of a purchase order or the redemption distribution is not reasonably practicable, or (2) such other period as the Sponsor determines to be necessary for the protection of the Shareholders of the Trust. When determining whether such an emergency exists, the Sponsor may consider, among other things, the overall impact such emergency has had on price, volume, volatility and liquidity in ether markets; the Sponsor's view on the how long such emergency will persist; and the Sponsor's view on whether such emergency is likely to ease or worsen. An emergency could include, but is not limited to, situations where the Trust is unable to transact in ether or where the Trust is unable to value its ether holdings, such as a circumstance where a digital asset trading platform experiences technical failure, power outage, network error or other circumstance resulting in a market-wide halt to trading, or the Trust is unable to access the ether in the Trust's ether custody account at the Custodian due to technical or operating issues at the Trust or the Custodian. Such disruptions may have an effect on overall ether liquidity or cause price spreads of ether to widen, which may have a detrimental effect on the value of the Shares.

In addition, the Trust may reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Participant Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order might be unlawful. Any such postponement, suspension or rejection could adversely affect a redeeming Authorized Participant. Suspension of creation privileges may adversely impact how the Shares are traded and arbitraged on the secondary market, which could cause them to trade at levels materially different (premiums and discounts) from the fair value of their underlying holdings.

Furthermore, in connection with an In-Kind Creation Order (as defined below), if an Authorized Participant Designee fails to deliver ether in accordance with the Trust's creation and redemption procedures as described herein and in the relevant Authorized Participant Agreement, the Sponsor may convert such In-Kind Creation Order to a Cash Creation Order. In such an event, an Authorized Participant will be solely responsible for delivering the Basket Cash Amount to the Trust.

***Shareholders may be adversely affected by an overstatement or understatement of the NAV calculation of the Trust due to the valuation methodology employed on the date of the NAV calculation.***

If the Index is not available or the Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that the Index should not be used, the Trust's ether investments may be valued using techniques other than reliance on the price established by the Index. The value established by using the Index may be different from what would be produced through the use of another methodology. Ether valued using techniques other than those employed by the Index, including ether investments that are "fair valued," may differ from the value established by the Index.

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***The Trust Agreement includes provisions that limit Shareholders' voting rights and restrict Shareholders' right to bring a derivative action.***

Under the Trust Agreement, Shareholders generally have no voting rights and the Trust will not have regular Shareholder meetings. Shareholders take no part in the management or control of the Trust. Accordingly, Shareholders do not have the right to authorize actions, appoint service providers or take other actions as may be taken by shareholders of other trusts or companies where shares carry such rights. The Sponsor may take actions in the operation of the Trust that may be adverse to the interests of Shareholders and may adversely affect the value of the Shares.

Moreover, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, Shareholders' statutory right under Delaware law to bring a derivative action (i.e., to initiate a lawsuit in the name of the Trust in order to assert a claim belonging to the Trust against a fiduciary of the Trust or against a third-party when the Trust's management has refused to do so) is restricted. Under Delaware law, a shareholder may bring a derivative action if the shareholder is a shareholder at the time the action is brought and either (i) was a shareholder at the time of the transaction at issue or (ii) acquired the status of shareholder by operation of law or the Trust's governing instrument from a person who was a shareholder at the time of the transaction at issue. Additionally, Section 3816(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act specifically provides that a "beneficial owner's right to bring a derivative action may be subject to such additional standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, including, without limitation, the requirement that beneficial owners owning a specified beneficial interest in the statutory trust join in the bringing of the derivative action." In addition to the requirements of applicable law and in accordance with Section 3816(e), the Trust Agreement provides that no Shareholder will have the right, power or authority to bring or maintain a derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of the Trust unless two or more Shareholders who (i) are not "Affiliates" (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of one another and (ii) collectively hold at least 10.0% of the outstanding Shares join in the bringing or maintaining of such action, suit or other proceeding. This provision applies to any derivative actions brought in the name of the Trust other than claims under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Due to this additional requirement, a Shareholder attempting to bring or maintain a derivative action in the name of the Trust will be required to locate other Shareholders with which it is not affiliated and that have sufficient Shares to meet the 10.0% threshold based on the number of Shares outstanding on the date the claim is brought and thereafter throughout the duration of the action, suit or proceeding. This may be difficult and may result in increased costs to a Shareholder attempting to seek redress in the name of the Trust in court. Moreover, if Shareholders bringing a derivative action, suit or proceeding pursuant to this provision of the Trust Agreement do not hold 10.0% of the outstanding Shares on the date such an action, suit or proceeding is brought, or such Shareholders are unable to maintain Share ownership meeting the 10.0% threshold throughout the duration of the action, suit or proceeding, such Shareholders' derivative action may be subject to dismissal. As a result, the Trust Agreement limits the likelihood that a Shareholder will be able to successfully assert a derivative action in the name of the Trust, even if such Shareholder believes that he or she has a valid derivative action, suit or other proceeding to bring on behalf of the Trust.

------

**Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.**

None.

**Item 1C. Cybersecurity.**

*Overview*

The Sponsor, Fidelity Management & Research LLC, and their respective affiliates operating as a business organization (collectively, "Fidelity") and its Enterprise Cybersecurity organization, on behalf of the Trust, have established a risk management program which includes processes to identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks, including material risks from cybersecurity threats, and to put in place appropriate controls to mitigate these risks and reduce the potential impact to the Trust and its Shareholders. The Trust does not have any employees and relies upon Fidelity and its Enterprise Cybersecurity organization for the Trust's day-to-day operations and to establish strategies, policies, and standards for the security of, and operations in, cyberspace.

Management of cybersecurity risk is a key area of focus for the Enterprise Cybersecurity organization, as threat actors continue to target Fidelity with sophisticated, ever-evolving attacks. Enterprise Cybersecurity's mission is to protect Fidelity and its customers from these attacks and other cyber incidents through risk optimization, policies, controls, technical capabilities, and employee training and awareness on risks, policies and standards. As Enterprise Cybersecurity implements measures to address cyber risk, it also continuously reviews its resources to better enhance security of systems, networks, data, and other technology.

The potential impact of risks from cybersecurity threats on the Trust are assessed on an ongoing basis. These risks are regularly evaluated to determine if they could materially affect the Trust's business strategy, operational results, and financial condition. During the reporting period, Fidelity did not identify any material risks from cybersecurity threats that have materially affected or are reasonability likely to materially affect the Trust, including its day-to-day operations, financial condition, or business strategies.

While Fidelity will continue to enhance its approach to address cybersecurity risk, it is possible that it will not be successful in preventing or mitigating a future cybersecurity incident that could have a material impact on Fidelity or the Trust's operations, financial condition, and business strategies.

*Third Party Risk and Engagement*

The Trust depends on and engages various third parties, including suppliers, vendors, and service providers, to operate its business. Third party incidents, such as supply chain attacks, ransomware operations, or insider misconduct, could result in a material impact to the Trust through the compromise of sensitive information or system failures. To address these risks, Fidelity has a vendor oversight program which includes periodic reviews of the cyber controls of third-party service providers, with the frequency of such reviews generally based on the nature of the Trust's information processed by the vendor and the vendor's criticality to business operations.

*Independent Assessment of Controls*

On behalf of the Trust, Fidelity engages third-party consultants to assess, identify, and/or manage material risks from cybersecurity threats. For example, Fidelity engages third-party consultants to perform audits of its cybersecurity measures and risk management processes, including those applicable to Trust. Fidelity has also hired qualified independent assessors to review applicable security controls in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' System and Organization Controls assurance programs. Additionally, Fidelity utilizes third-party consultants with specific areas of cybersecurity expertise to review and report on various aspects of its cybersecurity program, including those applicable to the Trust. The results of these consulting engagements are shared with the Sponsor as part of periodic reporting.

*Monitoring Emerging Threats*

Threat actors' utilization of emerging and new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to enhance cyber-attacks is an ongoing risk. Fidelity's Cyberthreat Intelligence (CTI) unit within Enterprise Cybersecurity is designed to alert stakeholders, control owners, and decision-makers of emerging cyber threats to Fidelity infrastructure, vendors, and clients. CTI operates via a follow-the-sun approach, monitoring criminal, nation-state, hacktivist, and insider groups and their use of these technologies to carry out attacks.

CTI utilizes information gathered from public and private sources, including industry groups such as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The organization analyzes such information and incorporates threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures into the program's security monitoring and detection tools and processes.

------

*Organization and Management*

Fidelity Enterprise Cybersecurity is comprised of several product areas that are designed to defend against attack, damage, and unauthorized action to information, data, and systems. Among these functions are:

*Detect and Respond*, which is responsible for delivering global cybersecurity operations, intelligence, and analytics to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability for Fidelity and its customers. This product area utilizes the latest tools and technology to monitor Fidelity's environment for signs of suspicious activity, as well as proactively detect and hunt for the latest cyber threats. Key functions include the Security Operations Center, Threat Intelligence, Insider Threat, and Endpoint Security.

*The Information Security Office*, which is a team that assists with the migration and implementation of Enterprise Cybersecurity policy into each of the firm's business units. Each Fidelity business unit has a dedicated Information Security Office team that partners with the business on cyber client engagement, security advisory, risk reduction, regulatory compliance, and education and awareness.

*Application and Infrastructure Security*, which is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks posed by software vulnerabilities, malware, and configuration exposures in Fidelity's applications and technology infrastructure. This product area focuses on critical functions such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and vendor application remediation, enabling Fidelity to address risks from vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Enterprise Cybersecurity also employs several teams that work together and are responsible for enabling Fidelity with a persistent readiness posture through comprehensive cyber risk management from risk identification through remediation. These teams include Cyber Risk, Cyber Controls & Policy, and Cyber Regulatory & Audit. Together, these teams provide a foundation and framework for the Enterprise Cybersecurity organization to align with industry standards, meet regulatory expectations, and adjust to changing risks.

*Governance and Oversight*

The Sponsor, in conjunction with Fidelity's Enterprise Cybersecurity organization, provides strategic oversight regarding cybersecurity risks and threats to the Trust. The Sponsor's Compliance and Risk Management Committee ("CRMC"), comprised of various officers of the Sponsor and the broader Fidelity organization, receives and reviews periodic reports from senior executives in Fidelity's Enterprise Cybersecurity Organization, including Fidelity's Chief Information Security Officer ("CISO") and members of the CISO's staff. These reports contain information about risks from cybersecurity threats, including results of independent reviews of the cybersecurity program, summaries of recent threat intelligence assessments, progress on key initiatives and strategies, and updates on recent regulatory activities, including new regulations and examinations.

The CRMC is responsible for assessing and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. In connection with the Trust's reliance on Fidelity and its Enterprise Cybersecurity organization, the CRMC relies on the cybersecurity expertise of Fidelity's CISO and members of the CISO's staff to assist in assessing and managing the Trust's material risks from cybersecurity threats. Fidelity's CISO has over thirty years of experience as a technology and information risk management leader, holding global senior management roles with large, diversified financial services companies. He has served as Fidelity's CISO since May 2024. He reports to Fidelity's Head of Technology and Global Services.

The Sponsor is informed about cybersecurity incidents, including material cybersecurity incidents, impacting the Trust. The Sponsor monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of such incidents, including through the receipt of notifications from service providers and reliance on communications with risk management, legal, cybersecurity, information technology, and/or compliance personnel of Fidelity. In conjunction with Fidelity's Enterprise Cybersecurity organization, the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust, also participates in regular testing of applicable incident response processes to ensure appropriate escalation, mitigation, communication, and reporting processes are in place.

------

**Item 2. Properties.**

Not applicable.

**Item 3. Legal Proceedings.**

None.

**Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.**

Not applicable.

------

**PART II**

**Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.**

**a)**The Shares of the Trust are listed in the accompanying table. The date the Shares of the Trust began trading, their symbols and their primary listing exchange are indicated below:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Trust** | **Commencement of Operations** | **Ticker Symbol** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Fidelity Ethereum Fund | July 23, 2024 | FETH | Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. |

---

As of February 20, 2026, there was one DTC participating shareholder of record of the Trust. Because most of the Trust's Shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of shareholders represented by these record holders.

The Trust made no distributions to Shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2025. The Trust has no obligation to make periodic distributions to Shareholders.

**b)**Not applicable.

**c)**The Trust does not purchase Shares directly from its shareholders. The following table summarizes the redemptions by Authorized Participants during the three months ended December 31, 2025:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of Securities Registered\*** | **Date** | **Total Number of Shares Redeemed** | **Average Price <br>Per Share** |
| Fidelity® Ethereum Fund |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Shares |  |  |  |
|  | 10/01/2025 to 10/31/2025 | 12275000 | $40.18 |
|  | 11/01/2025 to 11/30/2025 | 7925000 | $31.58 |
|  | 12/01/2025 to 12/31/2025 | 3500000 | $30.02 |

---

\* The registration statement covers an indeterminate amount of securities to be offered or sold.

**Item 6. [Reserved]**

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**Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis** **of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.**

*The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our audited financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.*

**Overview of the Trust**

Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust") is an exchange-traded product that issues shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares") that trade on the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange"). The Trust's investment objective is to seek to track the performance of ether, as measured by the performance of the Index, adjusted for the Trust's expenses and other liabilities. The Index is constructed using ether price feeds from eligible ether spot markets and a volume-weighted median price ("VWMP") methodology, calculated every 15 seconds based on VWMP spot market data over rolling sixty-minute increments. The Index is designed to reflect the performance of ether in U.S. dollars. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Trust holds ether and values its Shares daily based on the same methodology used to calculate the Index. The Trust is sponsored by FD Funds Management LLC (the "Sponsor"), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC.

The Trust is passively managed and does not pursue active management investment strategies. The Trust will not participate in the proof-of-stake validation mechanism of the Ethereum network (i.e., the Trust will not "stake" its ether) to earn additional ether or seek other means of generating income from its Ether Holdings. The Sponsor believes that the Shares are designed to provide investors with a cost-effective and convenient way to invest in ether without purchasing, holding and trading ether directly. The Trust sells and redeems Shares only with Authorized Participants in exchange for cash and only in blocks of 25,000 Shares.

The Shareholders of the Trust take no part in the management or control, and have no voice in, the Trust's operations or business. Except in limited circumstances, Shareholders have no voting rights under the Trust Agreement.

**Valuation of Ether and Computation of Net Asset Value** 

For purposes of calculating the Trust's net asset value ("NAV") per Share, the Trust's holdings of ether are valued using the same methodology as used to calculate the Index.

The Trust's NAV per Share is calculated by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•taking the fair market value of its total assets based on the volume-weighted median price of ether used for the calculation of the Index;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•subtracting any liabilities; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•dividing that total by the total number of outstanding Shares.

The Administrator calculates the Trust's NAV once each Exchange trading day. The Trust's NAV for a normal trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time ("EST"). Trading during the core trading session on the Exchange typically closes at 4:00 p.m. EST. However, the Trust's NAVs are not officially struck until after 4:00 p.m. EST. The pause after 4:00 p.m. EST provides an opportunity for the Sponsor to algorithmically detect, flag, investigate, and correct unusual pricing should it occur. The Sponsor has established a Valuation and Liquidity Committee to carry out the day-to-day fair valuation responsibilities and has adopted policies and procedures to govern the fair valuation process and the activities of the Valuation and Liquidity Committee. If the Valuation and Liquidity Committee determines in good faith that the Index does not reflect an accurate ether price, then the Valuation and Liquidity Committee instructs the Administrator to employ an alternative method to determine the fair value of the Trust's assets. In determining an alternative fair value method, the Valuation and Liquidity Committee generally considers such criteria as observable market-based inputs, including market quotations and last sale information from third-party pricing services and/or trading platforms on which ether are traded. The Valuation and Liquidity Committee's selection of third-party pricing services used considers the qualifications, experience, and history of the pricing services and whether their valuation methodologies and procedures are reasonably designed to produce prices that reflect fair value under the prevailing market conditions.

------

In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to the Trust for use by Shareholders and market professionals, a third-party financial data provider calculates and disseminates throughout the core trading session on each trading day an updated intraday indicative value ("IIV"). The IIV is calculated based on the Trust's ether holdings and any other assets expected to comprise that day's Trust's NAV calculation. The third-party financial data provider uses the Blockstream Crypto Data Feed Streaming Level 1 as the pricing source for the spot ether. The Blockstream Crypto Data Feed Streaming Level 1 calculates an average of current ether price levels of the ether trading platforms that are available on its feed. The Trust will provide an IIV per Share updated every 15 seconds, as calculated by the Exchange or a third-party financial data provider during the Exchange's regular trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST ("Regular Trading Hours"). The IIV disseminated during Regular Trading Hours should not be viewed as an actual real-time update of the Trust's NAV, which will be calculated only once at the end of each trading day as described herein.

**Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates**

***Principal Market and Fair Value Determination*** 

The Trust's periodic financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" ("ASC Topic 820"). ASC Topic 820 requires the fair value measurement of ether to assume that transactions take place in the principal market or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market, for ether that the Trust has access to. The Trust may buy and sell ether through brokered, dealer, over-the-counter, exchange or other markets. The Sponsor determines in its sole discretion the valuation sources and policies used to prepare the Trust's financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The Trust engaged a third-party pricing service to obtain an exchange-traded price from a principal market for ether, which was determined and designated based on its consideration of several exchange characteristics, including oversight, and the volume and frequency of trades. The exchange-traded price from the principal market on the periodic financial statements is as of 11:59:59 p.m. EST on the Trust's financial statement measurement date.

**Results of Operation**

The Trust's commencement of operations was July 23, 2024. The Trust had no operations prior to July 23, 2024, other than matters relating to its organization and the registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act.

***The Year Ended December 31, 2025***

The Trust's net assets increased from $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2024, to $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2025. The change in the Trust's net assets resulted primarily from an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 47,175,000 as of December 31, 2024 to 74,550,000 as of December 31, 2025, as a result of 126,050,000 Shares (5,042 Baskets), being issued exceeding 98,675,000 Shares (3,947 Baskets) being redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2025, partially offset by a decrease in the price of ether, which fell 10.86% from $3,333.60 as of December 31, 2024 to $2,971.55 as of December 31, 2025.

The NAV per Share decreased 11.08% from $33.34 as of December 31, 2024 to $29.64 as of December 31, 2025. The Trust's NAV per Share decreased 11.60% from $33.44 as of December 31, 2024 to $29.56 as of December 31, 2025.

The Trust's NAV per Share of $48.12 at August 22, 2025, was the highest during the year ended December 31, 2025, compared with a low of $14.64 at April 8, 2025.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the quantity of ether owned by the Trust and held by the ether custodian increased from 471,750 as of December 31, 2024, to 743,795 as of December 31, 2025. The increase in quantity is the result of the net increase from capital share transactions.

The net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $0.4 billion, resulting from a net unrealized appreciation on investment in ether of $0.1 billion and a net realized loss of $0.5 billion from the sale of the investment in ether for the redemption of Shares.

***The Period Ended December 31, 2024***

The Trust's net assets increased from $4.4 million as of June 30, 2024, to $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2024. The change in the Trust's net assets was driven by an increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 125,000 as of June 30, 2024 to 47,175,000 as of December 31, 2024 as a result of 54,575,000 Shares (2,183 Baskets) being issued and 7,525,000 Shares (301 Baskets) being redeemed during the period July 23, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024 offset by a decrease in the price of ether, which fell 3.34% from $3,448.77 as of July 23, 2024 to $3,333.60 as of December 31, 2024.

------

The NAV per Share decreased 4.39% from $34.87 as of July 23, 2024 to $33.34 as of December 31, 2024. The Trust's NAV per Share decreased 3.88% from $34.79 as of July 23, 2024 to $33.44 as of December 31, 2024.

The Trust's NAV per Share of $40.75 at December 6, 2024, was the highest during the period July 23, 2024, through December 31, 2024, compared with a low of $22.24 at September 6, 2024.

During the period ended December 31, 2024, the quantity of ether owned by the Trust and held by the ether custodian increased from 1,250 as of June 30, 2024, to 471,750 as of December 31, 2024. The increase in quantity is the result of the net increase from capital share transactions.

The net decrease in net assets resulting from operations for the period ended December 31, 2024, was $9.1 million, resulting from a net unrealized appreciation on investment in ether of $32.2 million and a net realized loss of $41.3 million from the sale of the investment in ether for the redemption of Shares.

**Cash Resources and Liquidity**

The Trust does not hold a cash balance except in connection with the issuance and redemption of Baskets or to pay expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. To the extent the Trust does not have available cash to facilitate redemptions or pay expenses not assumed by the Sponsor, the Trust will sell ether. When selling ether on behalf of the Trust, the Sponsor endeavors to minimize the Trust's holdings of assets other than ether. As a consequence, the Sponsor expects that the Trust will have an immaterial amount of cash flow from its operations and that its cash balance will be insignificant at the end of each reporting period. The Trust's only sources of cash are proceeds from the sale of Baskets and ether.

In exchange for the Sponsor Fee, the Sponsor has agreed to assume most of the expenses incurred by the Trust. The Sponsor contractually waived the Sponsor Fee until December 31, 2024. On January 1, 2025, the Sponsor Fee began accruing at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Trust's Ether Holdings.

**Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations** 

The Trust has not used, nor does it expect to use in the future, special purpose entities to facilitate off balance sheet financing arrangements and has no loan guarantee arrangements or off balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services for the Trust. While the Trust's exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on a Trust's financial position.

Sponsor Fee payments made to the Sponsor will be calculated as a fixed percentage of the Trust's Ether Holdings. As such, the Sponsor cannot anticipate the payment amounts that will be required under these arrangements for future periods as the Trust's Ether Holdings are not known until a future date.

**Selected Operating Data**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2025** |
| Price of ether on principal market <sup>(1)</sup> | $2971.55 |
| Index price <sup>(2)</sup> | $2963.88 |

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2025** |
| NAV per Share <sup>(3)</sup> | $29.64 |
| Adjustment to NAV per Share | $(0.08) |
| Trust's NAV per Share <sup>(4)</sup> | $29.56 |

---

(1)The Trust performed an assessment of the principal market at 11:59:59 p.m., EST, on December 31, 2025.

(2)Index Price as represented by the Index as of 4:00 p.m., EST, on the last business day of the period. The ether spot markets included in the Index as of the last business day of the period were Bitstamp, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Gemini, Kraken, and LMAX Digital.

(3)The NAV per Share was calculated using the fair value of ether based on the principal market price at 11:59:59 p.m., EST, on December 31, 2025.

(4)The Trust's NAV per Share is derived from the Index Price as represented by the Index as of 4:00 p.m., EST, on the last business day of the period. The Trust's NAV per Share is calculated using a non-GAAP methodology. Refer to the "Overview of the Trust" and "Valuation of Ether and Computation of Net Asset Value" sections of Item 7 herein for a description of the Index methodology and calculation of the Trust's NAV per Share.

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---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2024** |
| Price of ether on principal market <sup>(1)</sup> | $3333.60 |
| Index price <sup>(2)</sup> | $3344.41 |

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2024** |
| NAV per Share <sup>(3)</sup> | $33.34 |
| Adjustment to NAV per Share | $0.10 |
| Trust's NAV per Share <sup>(4)</sup> | $33.44 |

---

(1)The Trust performed an assessment of the principal market at 11:59:59 p.m., EST, on December 31, 2024.

(2)Index Price as represented by the Index as of 4:00 p.m., EST, on the last business day of the period. The ether spot markets included in the Index as of the last business day of the period were Bitstamp, Coinbase, Gemini, itBit, Kraken, and LMAX Digital.

(3)The NAV per Share was calculated using the fair value of ether based on the principal market price at 11:59:59 p.m., EST, on December 31, 2024.

(4)The Trust's NAV per Share is derived from the Index Price as represented by the Index as of 4:00 p.m., EST, on the last business day of the period. The Trust's NAV per Share is calculated using a non-GAAP methodology. Refer to the "Overview of the Trust" and "Valuation of Ether and Computation of Net Asset Value" sections of Item 7 herein for a description of the Index methodology and calculation of the Trust's NAV per Share

As of 4:00 p.m., EST, on the last business day of the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Trust's total value of ether based on the Index Price (non-GAAP methodology) was $2,204,520,518, a difference of $5,704,911 to the GAAP value, which was $2,210,225,429, and the total market value of the Trust's ether based on the price of an ether at 4:00 p.m., EST, in the principal market (non-GAAP methodology) was $2,210,515,510, a difference of $290,081 to the GAAP value, which was $2,210,225,429.

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**Analysis of Price Movements**

Investors should understand the relationship between the Index Price (non-GAAP measurement of the price of ether), the Trust's NAV per Share (non-GAAP measurement of the price of ether affected by non-ether net assets, such as the Sponsor Fee), the Trust's market price per share, and ether's principal market price. Investors should also be aware that past movements are not indicators of future movements. Movements may be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to, government regulation, security breaches experienced by service providers, as well as political and economic uncertainties around the world.

The following chart illustrates the movement in the Index Price, the principal market price, and the Trust's NAV per Share during the year ended December 31, 2025.

![img232294260_0.gif](img232294260_0.gif)

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Index Price has ranged from $1,465.30 on April 8, 2025, to $4,822.31 on August 24, 2025. The Sponsor has not observed a material difference between the Index Price and average prices from the constituent ether spot markets individually or as a group.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the 11:59:59 p.m. EST market price of ether, as reported on the Trust's principal market, has ranged from 1,417.92 on April 8, 2025, to $4,787.51 on August 23, 2025.

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Shares trade in the secondary market on the Exchange. Shares may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to the Trust's NAV per Share. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the Trust's NAV per Share may be influenced by various factors, including the number of Shareholders who seek to purchase or sell Shares in the secondary market and the liquidity of ether. The following chart sets out the historical closing prices for the Shares as reported by the Exchange and the Trust's NAV per Share during the year ended December 31, 2025.

![img232294260_1.gif](img232294260_1.gif)

**Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.**

The Trust is passively managed. The Trust does not utilize leverage, long-term debt, derivatives or any similar arrangements in seeking to meet its investment objectives or pay its expenses. The Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign currencies which could expose the Trust to foreign currency related market risk. The NAV of the Trust will change as fluctuations occur in the market price of the Trust's ether holdings. The price of ether is volatile, and market movements of ether are difficult to predict. For details of Trust's NAV changes as a result of fluctuations in the market price of the Trust's ether holdings refer to "*Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –* [*<u>Analysis of Price Movements</u>*](#price_movement_analysis)*".*

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**Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.**

**INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Page** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238)](#report_of_independent_auditor) | 76 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024](#statement_of_assets_and_liabilities) | 78 |
| [Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the](#statement_of_operations)[period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024](#statement_of_cash_flows) | 79 |
| [Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024](#statement_of_net_changes) | 80 |
| [Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024](#statement_of_cash_flows) | 81 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Schedules of Investment as of December 31, 2025 and 2024](#schedule_of_investment) | 82 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Notes to the Financial Statements](#notes_to_the_financial_statements) | 83 |

---

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**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Sponsor and Shareholders of Fidelity Ethereum Fund

***Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting***

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investment, of Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the related statements of operations, of changes in net assets and of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024 including the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Trust's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in *Internal Control - Integrated Framework* (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in *Internal Control - Integrated Framework* (2013) issued by the COSO.

***Basis for Opinions*** 

The Trust's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Trust's financial statements and on the Trust's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

***Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting*** 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

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***Critical Audit Matters*** 

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

*Existence of and Rights to the Investment in Ether*

As described in Note 2 to the financial statements, as of December 31, 2025, the fair value of the Trust's investment in ether was $2.2 billion, with a respective cost basis of $2.1 billion. Due to the Trust's classification as an investment company, investments in ether are recorded at their estimated fair value. As disclosed by management, digital assets, including ether, are controllable only by the possessor of both the unique public key and private key or keys relating to the "digital wallet" in which the digital asset is held. To the extent a private key is lost, destroyed or otherwise compromised and no backup of the private key is accessible, the Trust will be unable to access, and will effectively lose, the ether held in the related digital wallet.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the existence of, and the Trust's rights to, the investment in ether is a critical audit matter are (i) a high degree of auditor effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to the existence of, and the Trust's rights to, the investment in ether and (ii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements. These procedures included the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in evaluating evidence of the effectiveness of the related-party custodian's controls related to (i) reconciliation of the investment in ether from the related-party custodian's records to the public blockchain and (ii) safeguarding of the investment in ether held by the related party custodian, including the generation of the private cryptographic keys and the storing of these keys. These procedures also included, among others (i) confirming the Trust's investment in ether with the related-party custodian as of December 31, 2025 and comparing the information in the confirmation response to the Trust's records; (ii) testing purchases and sales executed by the Trust related to the investment in ether for a sample of transactions by obtaining and inspecting source documents, such as related-party custodian statements, and bank statements, as well as whether the transactions were appropriately authorized by the Trust by obtaining and inspecting approval records; and (iii) the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in (a) comparing the investment in ether from the related-party custodian's confirmation response to the public blockchain and (b) evaluating whether the Trust had access to the private cryptographic keys held by the related-party custodian by tracing certain withdrawal transactions to the public blockchain.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2026

We have served as the Trust's auditor since 2024.

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Statements of Assets and Liabilities**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for share and per share data)** | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2024** |
| **Assets** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Investment in ether, at fair value (cost $2,050,114 and $1,540,471 as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively) | $2210226 | $1572626 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Receivables from sales of ether | 2217 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Receivables from issuance of capital shares |  | 31796 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Total Assets** | $2212443 | $1604422 |
| **Liabilities** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Payable for purchases of ether |  | 31796 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Payable for capital shares redeemed | 2217 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sponsor fee payable | 457 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Total Liabilities** | $2674 | $31796 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |  |  |
| **Net Assets** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shares, no par value (unlimited shares authorized) 74,550,000 and 47,175,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paid-in-capital | 2641179 | 1581741 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total distributable earnings (loss) | (431410) | (9115) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total Net Assets | $2209769 | $1572626 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Net Asset Value per share (74,550,000 and 47,175,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively) | $29.64 | $33.34 |

---

*Values shown as $— in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities may reflect amounts less than $500.*

*The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements*

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Statements of Operations**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **(Amounts in 000's of US$)** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** <sup>(1)</sup> |
| **Investment Income:** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Investment income | $— | $— |
| **Expenses:** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sponsor fee | 4599 | 644 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Total Expenses Before Waiver** | 4599 | 644 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Sponsor fee waived |  | (644) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Net Expenses** | 4599 |  |
| **Net Investment Income (Loss)** | $(4599) | $— |
| **Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) from:** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether sold for redemptions | (544867) | (41270) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether transferred to pay the Sponsor fee | (786) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in ether | 127957 | 32155 |
| **Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment in Ether** | $(417696) | $(9115) |
| **Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations** | $(422295) | $(9115) |

---

*(1) The period presented is from May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024.*

*Values shown as $— in the Statement of Operations may reflect amounts less than $500.*

*The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements*

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Statements of Changes in Net Assets**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **<br>(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for shares)** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** <sup>(1)</sup> |
| **Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations:** |  |  |
| Net investment income (loss) | $(4599) | $— |
| Net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether sold for redemptions | (544867) | (41270) |
| Net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether transferred to pay the Sponsor fee | (786) |  |
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in ether | 127957 | 32155 |
| **Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations** | $(422295) | $(9115) |
| **Capital Share Transactions:** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shares issued | 4455489 | 1799841 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shares redeemed | (3396051) | (218100) |
| **Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions** | $1059438 | $1581741 |
| **Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets** | $637143 | $1572626 |
| Net Assets, beginning of period | 1572626 |  |
| **Net Assets, End of Period** | $2209769 | $1572626 |
| **Changes in Shares Outstanding:** |  |  |
| Shares outstanding, beginning of period | 47175000 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shares issued | 126050000 | 54700001 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shares redeemed | (98675000) | (7525001) |
| **Net Increase (Decrease) in Shares** | 27375000 | 47175000 |
| **Shares Outstanding, End of Period** | 74550000 | 47175000 |

---

*(1) The period presented is from May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024.*

*Values shown as $— in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets may reflect amounts less than $500.*

*The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements*

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Statements of Cash Flows**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **(Amounts in 000's of US$)** | **Year Ended December 31,** | **Year Ended December 31,** |
|  | **2025** | **2024** <sup>(1)</sup> |
| **Cash Flows from Operating Activities:** |  |  |
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $(422295) | $(9115) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Payments for purchases of ether | (4301756) | (1737370) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds from ether sold | 3263255 | 187425 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized (gain) loss on investment in ether sold for redemptions | 544867 | 41270 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized (gain) loss on investment in ether transferred to pay the Sponsor fee | 786 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in ether | (127957) | (32155) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Transfer of ether to pay the Sponsor fee | 4142 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Increase (decrease) in Sponsor fee payable | 457 |  |
| **Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities** | $(1038501) | $(1549945) |
| **Cash Flows from Financing Activities:** |  |  |
| Proceeds from issuance of capital shares | 4301756 | 1737370 |
| Cash paid for redemption of capital shares | (3263255) | (187425) |
| **Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities** | $1038501 | $1549945 |
| **Cash** |  |  |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash | $— | $— |
| Cash, beginning of the period | $— | $— |
| **Cash, End of the Period** | $— | $— |
| **Supplemental Information and Non-Cash Financing Activities** |  |  |
| Ether received for the issuance of capital shares | $54950 | $— |

---

*(1) The period presented is from May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024.*

*Values shown as $— in the Statement of Cash Flows may reflect amounts less than $500.*

*The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements*

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Schedules of Investment**

**December 31, 2025**

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** |
| **Investments (a)** | **Quantity of Ether** | **Cost** | **Fair Value** | **Percentage of Net Assets** |
| **Investment in ether** |  |  |  |  |
| **Global** |  |  |  |  |
| Ether | 743795 | $2050114 | $2210226 |  |
| **Total Investment in ether** |  | $2050114 | $2210226 | 100.02% |
| **Other Assets Less Liabilities** |  |  | $(457) | (0.02)% |
| **Total Net Assets** |  |  | $2209769 | 100.00% |

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(a)Non-income producing investment

**December 31, 2024**

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** | **(Amounts in 000's of US$, except for quantity of ether and percentages)** |
| **Investments (a)** | **Quantity of Ether** | **Cost** | **Fair Value** | **Percentage of Net Assets** |
| **Investment in ether** |  |  |  |  |
| **Global** |  |  |  |  |
| Ether | 471750 | $1540471 | $1572626 |  |
| **Total Investment in ether** |  | $1540471 | $1572626 | 100.00% |
| **Other Assets Less Liabilities** |  |  | $- | 0.00% |
| **Total Net Assets** |  |  | $1572626 | 100.00% |

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(a)Non-income producing investment

*The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements*

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**Fidelity Ethereum Fund**

**Notes to the Financial Statements**

**Note 1: Organization** 

Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust") is a Delaware Statutory Trust that was formed on October 31, 2023, pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Trust issues common units of beneficial interest ("Shares"), which represent units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The Trust's investment objective is to seek to track the performance of ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, as measured by the performance of the Index, adjusted for the Trust's expenses and other liabilities. The Index is designed to reflect the performance of ether in United States ("US") dollars. The Trust is sponsored by FD Funds Management LLC (the "Sponsor"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC. CSC Delaware Trust Company is the trustee of the Trust (the "Trustee"). The Trust will operate pursuant to a Trust Agreement, as amended and/or restated from time to time (the "Trust Agreement").

The Trust is passively managed. The Shareholders of the Trust do not have control or involvement in the management of the Trust. The Trust, the Sponsor, and the Trust's service providers do not loan or pledge the assets of the Trust or use those assets as collateral for any loan or similar arrangement unless required to facilitate transaction settlement.

Prior to June 4, 2024, the Trust had no operations other than matters relating to the sale and issuance of one Share of the Trust to an affiliate at a per-Share price of $40 (the "Seed Share") on May 24, 2024. On June 4, 2024, the Seed Share was redeemed for cash and FMR Capital, Inc. (the "Seed Capital Investor"), an affiliate of the Sponsor, purchased 125,000 Shares at a per-Share price of $38 (the "Seed Baskets"). On June 4, 2024, the Trust purchased 1,250 ether with the proceeds of the Seed Baskets. On July 22, 2024, the Trust was declared effective. On July 23, 2024, the Trust commenced operations and Shares commenced trading on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange").

**Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies**

The following is a summary of the significant accounting and reporting policies used in preparing the financial statements.

*Basis of Presentation*

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and are stated in US dollars. The Trust qualifies as an investment company for accounting purposes pursuant to the accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies ("ASC 946"). The Trust uses fair value as its method of accounting for its investment in 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 of 1940. The Trust operates as a single operating segment. The Trust's profit or loss, assets, and performance are regularly monitored and assessed as a whole by the Sponsor of the Trust, using the information presented in the financial statements and financial highlights.

*Use of Estimates*

The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual amounts may ultimately differ from those estimates and the differences could be material.

*Ether Assets* 

Ether is an Ethereum-based token, which is a type of digital asset based on an open-source cryptographic protocol existing on an Ethereum network. The Ethereum network supports ether and other Ethereum-based tokens. Digital assets are defined broadly as digital records that are made using cryptography for verification and security purposes, on a distributed ledger and may be characterized by their ability to be used as a medium of exchange, a representation to provide or access goods or services, or as a financing vehicle, such as a security. The Trust identifies ether as an "other investment" in accordance with ASC 946.

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*Investment Valuation*

Due to the Trust's classification as an investment company, investments in ether are recorded on the financial statements at their estimated fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement ("ASC 820"). ASC 820 requires the determination of the Trust's principal market or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market (principal market) and the assumption that ether is sold in their principal market. The Trust determines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants using the principal market on the measurement date and, therefore, the principal market used must be accessible to the Trust on that date. The Trust determines its principal market price for GAAP reporting and utilizes an exchange-traded price from that principal market as of 11:59:59 p.m., EST, on the financial statement measurement date.

GAAP establishes the following fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The inputs are categorized in one of the following levels:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust is able to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 – Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, that are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (b) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, (c) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or (d) inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 – Inputs that are unobservable (including the Trust's own data and assumptions based on the best information available) and significant to the entire fair value measurement.

To the extent that investments are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Investments traded on inactive markets or valued by reference to similar instruments are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can vary across investments and is affected by various factors, including the nature of the investment, whether the investment is new or unestablished in the marketplace, market liquidity and other investment specific characteristics. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, determining fair value requires more judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed. Therefore, the degree of judgment exercised by management in determining fair value is greatest for investments categorized in Level 3.

In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

*Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income*

The Trust records investment transactions in ether on a trade date basis. For financial reporting purposes, the Trust's investment holdings and Paid-In-Capital include trades executed through the end of the last business day of the period. The Trust's purchases are recorded at cost, including transaction fees, and are subsequently fair valued in accordance with the Trust's fair valuation policy. Changes in fair value are reflected as the net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment in ether. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on the basis of identified cost and reflected as net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether sold for redemptions and net realized gain (loss) on investment in ether transferred to pay the sponsor fee. The following tables summarize ether activity:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**(Amounts in 000's, except for quantity)** | **Quantity** | **Fair Value** |
| **Balance as of December 31, 2024** | 471750 | $1572626 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ether purchased | 1197812 | 4269960 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ether received for the issuance of capital shares | 18458 | 54950 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ether sold | (942946) | (3265472) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Transfer of ether to pay the Sponsor fee | (1279) | (4142) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized gain (loss) |  | (545653) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in ether |  | 127957 |
| **Balance as of December 31, 2025** | 743795 | $2210226 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**(Amounts in 000's, except for quantity)** | **Quantity** | **Fair Value** |
| **Balance as of May 24, 2024 (Seeding date)** |  | $— |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ether purchased | 537500 | 1769166 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ether sold | (65750) | (187425) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized gain (loss) |  | (41270) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investment in ether |  | 32155 |
| **Balance as of December 31, 2024** | 471750 | $1572626 |

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*Cash*

Cash consists of a demand deposit held with a financial institution. At times, deposits may be in excess of federally insured limits. The Trust has not experienced any losses and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on such deposits.

*Income Taxes*

The Trust intends to be classified as a "grantor trust" for US federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Trust itself should not be subject to US federal income tax. Instead, the Trust's income and expenses should "flow through" to the Shareholders, and the Trustee will report to Shareholders and the Internal Revenue Service on that basis.

The Sponsor evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of its tax treatment, and its tax reporting to its shareholders, of these positions to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet that threshold would be recorded as an expense in the current year. The Trust is required to analyze all open tax years. Open tax years are those years that are open for examination by the relevant income taxing authority. As of December 31, 2025, the 2024 tax year remains open for examination. There were no examinations in progress at period end.

*Expenses*

Expenses are recorded as accrued. Expense estimates are accrued in the period to which they relate. Expenses included in the accompanying financial statements reflect the expenses of the Trust and do not include any expenses paid by the Sponsor or related entities outside of the Trust.

*Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements*

The Trust adopted FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2023-08, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets" ("ASU 2023-08"), effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-08 requires entities to subsequently measure certain crypto assets at fair value, and changes in fair value must be recorded in net income in each reporting period. The Trust's accounting and reporting under ASC 946 is materially consistent with these requirements. These financial statements include additional disclosures about the holdings of certain crypto assets required by ASU 2023-08 for annual reporting periods.

**Note 3: Related Party Agreements and Transactions**

*Administrator* 

Fidelity Service Company, Inc., an affiliate of the Sponsor, serves as the Trust's administrator (the "Administrator"). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides necessary administrative, tax and accounting services and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust, including valuing the Trust's ether and calculating the net asset value ("NAV") per Share of the Trust ("Trust's NAV") and supplying pricing information to the Sponsor for the relevant website. In addition, the Administrator makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. All fees and expenses incurred by the Trust related to services performed by the Administrator are borne by the Sponsor.

*Custodian*

Fidelity Digital Assets, N.A., an affiliate of the Sponsor, serves as the Trust's ether custodian (the "Custodian"). Under the Custodial Services Agreement, the Custodian is responsible for safekeeping all of the ether owned by the Trust. The Custodian was selected by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is responsible for opening an account with the Custodian that holds the Trust's ether, as well as facilitating the transfer or sale of ether required for the operation of the Trust. All fees and expenses incurred by the Trust related to services performed by the Custodian are borne by the Sponsor.

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*Distributor*

Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, an affiliate of the Sponsor, ("FDC" or the "Distributor") is responsible for reviewing and approving the marketing materials prepared by the Sponsor for compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") advertising laws, rules, and regulations pursuant to a marketing agreement with the Trust. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") and a member of FINRA. All fees and expenses incurred by the Trust related to services performed by the Distributor are borne by the Sponsor.

*Index Services* 

Fidelity Product Services LLC, an affiliate of the Sponsor, (the "Index Provider") is responsible for the methodology and oversight of the Index. Coin Metrics, Inc. is the third-party, independent calculation agent for the Index. All fees and expenses incurred by the Trust related to services performed by the Index Provider are borne by the Sponsor.

*Sponsor Fee* 

On June 3, 2024, the Trust contractually agreed to pay the Sponsor a unified fee of 0.25% of the Trust's Ether Holdings (the "Sponsor Fee"), effective as of the date of the registration statement. The Trust's "Ether Holdings" is the quantity of the Trust's ether plus any cash or other assets held by the Trust represented in ether as calculated using the Index price, less its liabilities (which include estimated accrued but unpaid fees and expenses) represented in ether as calculated using the Index price. The Sponsor Fee is paid by the Trust to the Sponsor as compensation for services performed under the Trust Agreement. The Sponsor is obligated to assume and pay all fees and other expenses incurred by the Trust in the ordinary course of its affairs, excluding taxes, but including: (i) the fees of the Trust's third-party service providers including, but not limited to, the Distributor, the Administrator, any custodian, the Transfer Agent, the Index Provider and the Trustee, (ii) the fees and expenses related to the listing, quotation or trading of the Shares on the Exchange (including customary legal, marketing and audit fees and expenses), (iii) legal fees and expenses incurred in the ordinary course, (iv) audit fees, (v) regulatory fees, including, if applicable, any fees relating to the registration of the Trust and Shares, including any ongoing filings related to the offering of Shares, under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or the 1934 Act, (vi) printing and mailing costs, (vii) costs of maintaining the Trust's website and (viii) applicable license fees (each, a "Sponsor-paid Expense" and collectively, the "Sponsor-paid Expenses"), provided that any expense that qualifies as an Extraordinary Expense will be deemed to be an Extraordinary Expense and not a Sponsor-paid Expense. There is no cap on the amount of Sponsor-paid Expenses. The Sponsor has also assumed all fees and expenses related to the organization and offering of the Trust and the Shares.

Effective July 10, 2024, the Trust and the Sponsor entered into a Fee Waiver Agreement in which the Sponsor agreed to waive the entirety of the Sponsor Fee (the "Waiver") through December 31, 2024. Effective December 31, 2024, the Waiver ended pursuant to the terms of the Fee Waiver Agreement.

The Trust may incur certain extraordinary, nonrecurring expenses that are not Sponsor-paid Expenses, including, but not limited to, brokerage and transactions costs associated with the sale or transfer of ether, taxes and governmental charges, expenses and costs of any extraordinary services performed by the Sponsor (or any other service provider) on behalf of the Trust to protect the Trust, the Trust's assets, or the interests of Shareholders, any indemnification of the Custodian or other agents, service providers or counterparties of the Trust, extraordinary legal fees and expenses, including any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with litigation, regulatory enforcement or investigation matters (collectively, "Extraordinary Expenses"). To the extent on-chain transaction fees are incurred in connection with transfers or sales of ether to pay Extraordinary Expenses, the Trust will bear such fees.

The Administrator calculates the Sponsor Fee in respect of each day based on the prior day's Ether Holdings. The Sponsor Fee accrues daily in ether and is payable monthly in ether or cash. To the extent the Trust does not have cash readily available, the Sponsor will cause the transfer or sale of ether in such quantity as may be necessary to permit the payment of Trust expenses and liabilities not assumed by the Sponsor. The amount of ether transferred or sold may vary from time to time depending on the actual sales price of ether relative to the Trust's expenses and liabilities.

------

**Note 4: Fair Value Measurement**

The Trust's assets recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy as described in the Trust's significant accounting policies in Note 2. The following table presents information about the Trust's assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** | **December 31, 2025** |
| **(Amounts are in 000's)** | **Level 1** | **Level 2** | **Level 3** | **Total** |
| Investment in ether | $2210226 | $— | $— | $2210226 |
| **Total Investments** | $2210226 | $— | $— | $2210226 |

---

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** | **December 31, 2024** |
| **(Amounts are in 000's)** | **Level 1** | **Level 2** | **Level 3** | **Total** |
| Investment in ether | $1572626 | $— | $— | $1572626 |
| **Total Investments** | $1572626 | $— | $— | $1572626 |

---

Geographic location for all investments is detailed in the accompanying Schedules of Investment.

**Note 5: Capital** 

The Trust is an exchange-traded product. The Trust continuously offers Baskets consisting of Shares to Authorized Participants. The number of outstanding Shares is expected to increase and decrease from time to time as a result of the issuance and redemption of Baskets. The issuance and redemption of Baskets requires the delivery to the Trust or the distribution by the Trust of the amount of ether or cash represented by the Trust's NAV of the Baskets being issued or redeemed. The total amount of ether or cash required for the issuance or redemption of Baskets will be based on the combined net assets represented by the number of Baskets being issued or redeemed.

Shares represent fractional undivided beneficial interests in and ownership of the Trust. Shares issued by the Trust are registered in a book entry system and held in the name of Cede & Co. at the facilities of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), and one or more global certificates issued by the Trust to DTC evidences the Shares. Shareholders may hold their Shares through DTC if they are direct participants in DTC ("DTC Participants") or indirectly through entities (such as broker-dealers) that are DTC Participants.

**Note 6: Commitments and Contingencies**

In the normal course of business, the Trust enters into certain contracts that provide a variety of indemnities, including contracts with the Sponsor and affiliates of the Sponsor, and its officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries and affiliates, and the Custodian as well as others relating to services provided to the Trust. The Trust's maximum exposure under these and its other indemnities is unknown. However, no liabilities have arisen under these indemnities in the past and, while there can be no assurances in this regard, there is no expectation that any will occur in the future. Therefore, the Sponsor does not consider it necessary to record a liability in this regard. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

**Note 7: Concentration Risk**

Unlike other funds that may invest in diversified assets, the Trust's investment strategy is concentrated in a single asset within a single asset class. This concentration maximizes the degree of the Trust's exposure to a variety of market risks associated with ether and digital assets. By concentrating its investment strategy solely in ether, any losses suffered as a result of a decrease in the value of ether can be expected to reduce the value of an interest in the Trust and will not be offset by other gains if the Trust were to invest in underlying assets that were diversified.

------

**Note 8: Financial Highlights**

The Trust is presenting the following financial highlights related to investment performance and operations of a Share outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2025 and for the period July 23, 2024 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2024. The total return, at net asset value is based on the change in NAV of a Share during the period and the total return, at market value is based on the change in market value of a Share on the Exchange during the period. An individual investor's return and ratios may vary based on the timing of capital transactions.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** | **For the Period July 23, 2024 (Commencement of Operations) Through December 31, 2024** |
| **Per Share Activity** |  |  |
| Net Asset Value, beginning of period | $33.34 | $34.87 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net investment income (loss) <sup>(1)</sup> | (0.08) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) | (3.62) | (1.53) |
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (3.70) | (1.53) |
| Net Asset Value, end of period | $29.64 | $33.34 |
| Market Value per Share, beginning of period | 33.41 | 34.87 |
| Market Value per Share, end of period | $29.61 | $33.41 |
| Total Return, at Net Asset Value <sup>(2)</sup> | (11.08)% | (4.41)% |
| Total Return, at Market Value <sup>(2)</sup> | (11.37)% | (4.20)% |
| **Ratios to Average Net Assets** |  |  |
| Net investment income (loss) <sup>(3)</sup> | (0.25)% | 0.00% |
| Expenses, gross <sup>(3)</sup> | 0.25% | 0.24% |
| Expenses, net of waivers <sup>(3)</sup> | 0.25% | 0.00% |

---

(1)Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(2)Percentages are not annualized.

(3)For the period July 23, 2024 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2024, percentages are annualized.

**Note 9: Subsequent Events**

In preparation of the financial statements, management has evaluated the events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2025, and determined that there are no subsequent events or transactions that would require adjustments to or disclosures in the Trust's financial statements.

------

**Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.**

There are not and have not been disagreements between the Trust and its accountant on matters of accounting principles, practices, or financial statement disclosure.

**Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.**

**Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures**

In accordance with Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended, management of the Sponsor, under the supervision and with the participation of the Sponsor's President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer), carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report and determined that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2025, the end of the period covered by the Annual Report.

**Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting** 

The Sponsor's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

The Sponsor's management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Sponsor's President (principal executive officer) and Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer) assessed the effectiveness of the Trust's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025. In making this assessment, the Sponsor's management used the criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 COSO Framework). Based on this assessment, the Sponsor's management concluded that the Trust's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become ineffective because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The effectiveness of the Trust's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

**Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

There have been no changes in the Trust's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during its most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

**Item 9B. Other Information.**

Not applicable.

**Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.**

Not applicable.

------

**PART III**

**Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.**

**The Sponsor**

The Trust does not have any directors, officers or employees. The creation and operation of the Trust has been arranged by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR LLC.

**Background and Principals**

The President and Treasurer of the Sponsor are as follows:

*Cynthia Lo Bessette*, 1969, serves as President of the Sponsor. She is Head of Fidelity's Digital Asset Management division since 2023, leading teams responsible for the management and development of the investment framework and infrastructure for crypto research, asset tokenization, digital asset/crypto trading, and settlement and the development and implementation of new investment capabilities and investment products and solutions, business development, and digital asset education. Previously, in her role as Head of Fidelity's Asset Management and Digital Assets Legal, Ms. Lo Bessette led a team providing legal and regulatory guidance across Asset Management and built a team providing legal and regulatory guidance and support to the Fidelity Digital Assets business and blockchain-related technology research and development in the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology. Prior to joining Fidelity in August 2019, Ms. Lo Bessette was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of OppenheimerFunds, and a Director of OFI International, Ltd, the UK affiliate of OppenheimerFunds, and OppenheimerFunds ICAV.

*Craig Brown*, 1977, serves as Treasurer of the Sponsor. Mr. Brown is a Vice President in Fidelity's Asset Management Treasurer's Office, where he is responsible for oversight of regulatory matters as well as the financial reporting and accounting policy for the Fidelity funds. He also serves as Deputy Treasurer of the Fidelity Equity and High Income Funds. Previously, as Vice President, Mr. Brown led oversight of the Fidelity funds' financial reporting, fund service providers, including custodian banks, and engagement with the funds' independent registered public accounting firms. Prior to joining Fidelity in January 2013, Mr. Brown was an Assistant Treasurer with Sun Capital Advisors Trust and an Assistant Vice President with J.P. Morgan Fund Services.

**Family Relationships**

There are no family relationships among our executive officers.

**Indemnification**

The general fiduciary duties that would otherwise be imposed on the Sponsor (which would make its operation of the Trust as described herein impracticable due to the strict prohibition imposed by such duties on, for example, conflicts of interest on behalf of a fiduciary in its dealings with its beneficiaries), will be replaced entirely by the terms of the Trust Agreement (to which terms all Shareholders, by subscribing to the Shares, are deemed to consent).

The Trust Agreement provides that the Trust shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee (including in its individual capacity) and any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Trustee (the "Indemnified Persons") from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and fees and expenses incurred in connection with enforcement of its indemnification rights under the Trust Agreement), taxes and penalties of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, "Expenses"), to the extent that such Expenses arise out of or are imposed upon or asserted at any time against such Indemnified Persons with respect to the performance of the Trust Agreement, the creation, operation or termination of the Trust or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any Expenses which are a result of the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of an Indemnified Person. If the Trust shall have insufficient assets or improperly refuses to pay an Indemnified Person within sixty (60) days of a request for payment owed hereunder, the Sponsor shall, as secondary obligor, compensate or reimburse the Trustee or indemnify, defend and hold harmless an Indemnified Person as if it were the primary obligor under the Trust Agreement; provided, however, that the Sponsor shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any Expenses which are a result of the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of an Indemnified Person. To the fullest extent permitted by law and by the requirement for treatment of the Trust as a grantor trust for tax purposes, Expenses to be incurred by an Indemnified Person shall, from time to time, be advanced by, or on behalf of, the Sponsor prior to the final disposition of any matter upon receipt by the Sponsor of an undertaking by, or on behalf of, such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Trust Agreement.

------

Under Delaware law, a beneficial owner of a statutory trust (such as a shareholder of the Trust) may, under certain circumstances, institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated beneficial owners (a "class action") to recover damages for violations of fiduciary duties, or on behalf of a statutory trust (a "derivative action") to recover damages from a third party where there has been a failure or refusal to institute proceedings to recover such damages. In addition, beneficial owners may have the right, subject to certain legal requirements, to bring class actions in federal court to enforce their rights under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC. Beneficial owners who have suffered losses in connection with the purchase or sale of their beneficial interests may be able to recover such losses from the Sponsor where the losses result from a violation by the Sponsor of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The foregoing summary describing in general terms the remedies available to shareholders under federal law is based on statutes, rules and decisions as of the date of this Annual Report. As this is a rapidly developing and changing area of the law, shareholders who believe that they may have a legal cause of action against any of the foregoing parties should consult their own counsel as to their evaluation of the status of the applicable law at such time.

**Code of Ethics**

The Sponsor has adopted a code of ethics ("Code of Ethics") that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report.

**Insider Trading Policies and Procedures** 

Because the Trust does not have directors, officers, or employees, it has not adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale and/or disposition of Trust securities by such persons.

**Item 11. Executive Compensation.**

The Trust has no employees or directors and is managed by the Sponsor. None of the officers of the Trust, or the members or officers of the Sponsor receive compensation from the Trust.

The Sponsor receives a unified monthly Sponsor Fee from the Trust that accrues daily at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Trust's Ether Holdings.

**Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.**

Not applicable.

**Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.**

See Item 11 above.

------

**Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.**

Fees for services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the period May 24, 2024 (seeding date) through December 31, 2024 were as follows:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year ended December 31, 2025** | **Year ended December 31, 2024** |
| Audit Fees | $118700 | $89800 |
| Audit-Related Fees |  |  |
| Tax Fees | 1000 |  |
| All Other Fees |  |  |
| **Total:** | $119700 | $89800 |

---

**Audit Fees** for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, associated with the annual audit and quarterly reports of the Trust's financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

**Tax Fees** for the year ended December 31, 2025 consist of all services performed by professional staff in the independent registered public accountant's tax division except those services related to the audits.

**Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services and Fees**

The Sponsor approved all of the services provided by PwC described above. The Sponsor pre-approves all audit and allowed non-audit services of the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, including all engagement fees and terms.

------

**PART IV**

**Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)For a list of the financial statements included herein, see Index to the Financial Statements on page [75] of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, incorporated into this Item by reference.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either not required or not applicable or the information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)Exhibits:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br>**Number** | **Description** |
| 3.1\*\* | [<u>Certificate of Trust, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024</u>](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex32.htm). |
| 4.1\*\* | [First Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on June 21, 2024.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex31.htm) |
| 4.2\*\* | [Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on July 21, 2025.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312525161974/d46588dex41.htm) |
| 4.3\*\* | [Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001- 42163) filed on March 14, 2025.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000095017025039374/ck0002000046-ex4_2.htm) |
| 10.1\*\* | [Form of Initial Authorized Participant Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex101.htm). |
| 10.2\*\* | [Amended and Restated Form of Initial Authorized Participant Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on July 21, 2025.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312525161974/d46588dex101.htm) |
| 10.3\*\* | [Distribution Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex102.htm) |
| 10.4\*\* | [Custodial Services Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex103.htm). |
| 10.5\*\* | [Administration Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex104.htm). |
| 10.5.1\*\* | [Amendment to Administration Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on June 21, 2024.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524165322/d759655dex1041.htm) |
| 10.6\*\* | [Transfer Agency Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex105.htm). |
| 10.6.1\*\* | [Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5.1 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1(File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex1051.htm). |
| 10.7\*\* | [Sponsor Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on June 21, 2024.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524165322/d759655dex106.htm) |
| 10.8\*\* | [Custodian Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex107.htm). |
| 10.9\*\* | [Accession Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-278249) filed on May 31, 2024](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2000046/000119312524151982/d759655dex108.htm). |
| 14.1\* | [Fidelity Digital Asset Management Funds' Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.](ck0002000046-ex14_1.htm) |
| 23.1\* | [Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm](ck0002000046-ex23_1.htm) |
| 31.1\* | [Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ck0002000046-ex31_1.htm) |
| 31.2\* | [Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ck0002000046-ex31_2.htm) |
| 32.1\* | [Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ck0002000046-ex32_1.htm) |

---

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit**<br>**Number** | **Description** |
| 32.2\* | [Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.](ck0002000046-ex32_2.htm) |
| 97.1\* | [Fidelity Ethereum Fund Compensation Recovery Policy.](ck0002000046-ex97_1.htm) |
| 101.INS\* | Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document |
| 101.SCH\* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents |
| 104\* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |

---

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\* Filed herewith.

\*\* Previously filed.

**Item 16. Form 10-K Summary**

None.

------

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned in the capacities\* indicated, thereunto duly authorized**.**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **FIDELITY ETHEREUM FUND** | **FIDELITY ETHEREUM FUND** |
| Date: February 25, 2026 | By: | /s/ Cynthia Lo Bessette |
|  | Name: | Cynthia Lo Bessette |
|  | Title: | President (Principal Executive Officer) |
|  | **FIDELITY ETHEREUM FUND** | **FIDELITY ETHEREUM FUND** |
| Date: February 25, 2026 | By: | /s/ Craig Brown |
|  | Name: | Craig Brown |
|  | Title: | Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |

---

\* The registrant is a trust and the persons are signing in their capacities as officers of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.9912509.101 ETH-10K-0226

------

## Exhibit 14.1

**Exhibit 14.1**

![img227621692_0.jpg](img227621692_0.jpg)

**fidelity digital asset management funds'**

**CODE OF ETHICS**

**FOR principal executive officer**

**AND PRINCIPAL financial OFFICER**

------

**FIDELITY DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FUNDS' CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER**

I. Purposes of the Code/Covered Officers

This document constitutes the Code of Ethics (Code) adopted by FD Funds Management LLC (FDFM) (Sponsor), the sponsor of the funds identified on Schedule A hereto (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds). Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each Fund is required to adopt a Code that applies to the Fund's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (Covered Officers). Because each of the Funds is a trust and has no officers, under the SEC's guidance the Covered Officers for each Fund are the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Sponsor, and this policy shall be deemed to be the policy adopted by each Fund. Fidelity's Ethics Office, within Enterprise Compliance, administers the Code.

The purposes of the Code are to deter wrongdoing and to promote, on the part of the Covered Officers:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a Fund submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in other public communications by a Fund;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•the prompt internal reporting to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code of violations of the Code; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.

**II. Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically** 

**Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest** 

**Overview.** A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest interferes with the interests of, or their service to, a Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of their family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of their position with a Fund.

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts may also arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between a Fund and the Sponsor (or another Fidelity company) of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers of a Fund will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund, the Sponsor or another Fidelity company), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that have different effects on the Fund, the Sponsor and

------

other Fidelity companies. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Fund and the Sponsor (or another Fidelity company) and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund.

The following list provides scenarios of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these scenarios are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of a Fund.

\* \* \*

Each Covered Officer of a Fund must:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not use their personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Fund;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Fund;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not engage in any outside business activity, including serving as a director or trustee, that prevents the Covered Officer from devoting appropriate time and attention to the Covered Officer's responsibilities with the Fund;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not have a consulting or employment relationship with the Fund's service providers that are not affiliated with Fidelity; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•not retaliate against any employee or Covered Officer for reports of actual or potential misconduct, which are made in good faith.

With respect to other fact patterns, if a Covered Officer is in doubt, other potential conflict of interest situations should be described immediately to the Fidelity Ethics Office for resolution. Similarly, any questions a Covered Officer has generally regarding the application or interpretation of the Code should be directed to the Fidelity Ethics Office immediately.

III. Disclosure and Compliance

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Each Covered Officer should familiarize themself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to each of the Funds.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about a Fund to others, whether within or outside Fidelity, including to the auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within their area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of a Fund, the Sponsor, and the Fidelity service providers, with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Fund files with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

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IV. Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•upon receipt of the Code, and annually thereafter, submit to the Fidelity Ethics Office an acknowledgement stating that they have received, read, and understand the Code; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•notify the Fidelity Ethics Office promptly if they know of any violation of the Code. <u>Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code</u>.

The Fidelity Ethics Office shall take all action it considers appropriate to investigate any actual or potential violations reported to it. Upon completion of the investigation, if necessary, the matter will be reviewed with senior management or other appropriate parties, and a determination will be made as to whether any action should be taken as detailed below. The Covered Officer will be informed of any action determined to be appropriate. The Fidelity Ethics Office will inform the Personal Trading Committee of all Code violations and actions taken in response. Without implied limitation, appropriate remedial, disciplinary or preventive action may include a written warning, a letter of censure, suspension, dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities. Additionally, other legal remedies may be pursued.

The policies and procedures described in the Code do not create any obligations to any person or entity other than the Covered Officers of each of the Funds. The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Funds and does not constitute a promise, contract or an admission by or on behalf of the Funds as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion. The Funds, the Sponsor, other Fidelity companies, and the Fidelity Head of Ethics retain the discretion to decide whether the Code applies to a specific situation, and how it should be interpreted.

**V. Oversight**

Material violations of this Code will be reported promptly by the Sponsor (or another Fidelity company) to the Sponsor's appropriate governance body.

**VI. Other Policies and Procedures** 

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Other Fidelity policies or procedures that cover the behavior or activities of Covered Officers are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers (and others) and are not part of this Code.

**VII. Amendments**

Any material amendments or changes to this Code must be approved or ratified by the appropriate governance body of the Sponsor.

**VIII. Records and Confidentiality**

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Records of any violation of the Code and of the actions taken as a result of such violations will be kept by the Fidelity Ethics Office. All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Fidelity Ethics Office, the Personal Trading Committee, the Sponsor's appropriate governance body, appropriate personnel at the relevant Fidelity company or companies, and the legal counsel of any or all of the foregoing.

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**SCHEDULE A**

**LIST OF FUNDS**

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

Fidelity Ethereum Fund

Fidelity Solana Fund

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## Exhibit 23.1

**Exhibit 23.1**

**CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM**

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fidelity Ethereum Fund of our report dated February 25, 2026 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2026

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## Exhibit 31.1

**Exhibit 31.1**

**CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, Cynthia Lo Bessette, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Fidelity Ethereum Fund;

2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)Disclosed in this Annual Report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Date: February 25, 2026 | &nbsp;&nbsp;By: | &nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Cynthia Lo Bessette |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Cynthia Lo Bessette\* |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Title: | &nbsp;&nbsp;President |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal Executive Officer) |

---

\* The registrant is a trust and Ms. Lo Bessette is signing in her capacity as an officer of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

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## Exhibit 31.2

**Exhibit 31.2**

**CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, Craig Brown, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Fidelity Ethereum Fund;

2. Based on my knowledge, this Annual Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Annual Report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Annual Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Annual Report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Annual Report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Annual Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)Disclosed in this Annual Report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Date: February 25, 2026 | &nbsp;&nbsp;By: | &nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Craig Brown |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Craig Brown\* |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Title: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Treasurer |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |

---

\* The registrant is a trust and Mr. Brown is signing in his capacity as an officer of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

------

## Exhibit 32.1

**Exhibit 32.1**

**CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025 of Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust"), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Cynthia Lo Bessette, President of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the Trust, hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that:

1. The Annual Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; <u>and</u>

2. The information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Date: February 25, 2026 | &nbsp;&nbsp;By: | &nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Cynthia Lo Bessette |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Cynthia Lo Bessette\* |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Title: | &nbsp;&nbsp;President |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal Executive Officer) |

---

\* The registrant is a trust and Ms. Lo Bessette is signing in her capacity as an officer of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

------

## Exhibit 32.2

**Exhibit 32.2**

**CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025 of Fidelity Ethereum Fund (the "Trust"), as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Craig Brown, Treasurer of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the Trust, hereby certify, to the best of my knowledge, that:

1. The Annual Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; <u>and</u>

2. The information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Date: February 25, 2026 | &nbsp;&nbsp;By: | &nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Craig Brown |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Craig Brown\* |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;Title: | &nbsp;&nbsp;Treasurer |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |

---

\* The registrant is a trust and Mr. Brown is signing in his capacity as an officer of FD Funds Management LLC, the Sponsor of the registrant.

------

## Exhibit 97.1

**Exhibit 97.1**

**<u>Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, Fidelity Ethereum Fund and Fidelity Solana Fund</u>**

**<u>Compensation Recovery Policy</u>**

**I. Explanation of the Rule**

The purpose of this policy (this "Recovery Policy") is to establish a framework for the potential recovery of erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation in the event that Executive Officers of the Fidelity Digital Assets Funds listed on Schedule A, as may be amended from time to time, (the "Trusts") are granted such compensation in the future. This Recovery Policy is applicable only to the Executive Officers of the Trusts, and only to the extent such Executive Officers receive Incentive-Based Compensation from the Trusts. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trusts do not currently pay and do not expect to pay Incentive-Based Compensation and therefore this Recovery Policy is not currently applicable. In addition, this Recovery Policy does not apply to any compensation arrangement between any officer (whether or not an Executive Officer of the Trusts), and any person or entity other than the Trusts, including FD Funds Management LLC ("FDFM"), the Sponsor of the Trusts. The Trusts have no employees, officers or directors, however, certain officers of the Sponsor may from time to time serve in a policy-making function for the Trusts and therefore may be deemed Executive Officers (as defined below) of the Trusts subject to this Recovery Policy to the extent such Executive Officers were awarded Incentive-Based Compensation by the Trusts.

As of the adoption date of this Recovery Policy, the Trusts neither award any Incentive-Based Compensation to nor does it have any compensation arrangement with any individual. However, the Trusts are adopting this Recovery Policy in order to comply with the applicable Rules of the Cboe BZX and NYSE Arca (and any other securities exchange on which the Trusts' interests are listed in the future) (the "Exchanges"), which such Recovery Policy will only apply in the event an Executive Officer of the Trusts are awarded any Incentive-Based Compensation that is paid by the Trusts.

**II. Formal Citation of the Rule** 

Cboe BZX Rule 14.10(k), NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges), adopted in accordance with Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act

**III. Responsible Compliance Officer** 

Fidelity Digital Asset Management ("FDAM") Compliance Officer

**IV. Means of Achieving Compliance**

This Recovery Policy applies to all Executive Officers of the Trusts (*see* Section V - Scope & Definitions) and outlines the procedures and principles that would be followed in the event of such compensation being awarded by the Trusts in the future.

FDFM, as Sponsor of the Trusts, commits to promptly recover erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation paid by the Trusts. FDFM will initiate a recovery process in the event the Trusts are obligated to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with securities laws, encompassing corrections of material errors in previously issued financial statements or addressing errors that would result in a material misstatement if uncorrected in the current period.

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FDFM will adhere to the below subsequent recovery steps in the event there is a need to recover erroneously awarded compensation:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Upon identification of an error or violation triggering recovery, FDFM, in consultation with legal and financial experts, will conduct a thorough review.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Executive Officer involved will be given an opportunity to provide relevant information and present their case before a final decision is made.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•FDFM will consider mitigating factors, such as the Executive Officer's level of involvement, knowledge, and any steps taken to prevent or rectify the error.

FDFM will initiate the recovery process promptly upon the discovery of errors or violations and work towards recovering the amount within a reasonable timeframe. As part of the repayment mechanism, the recovered amount may be deducted from future Incentive-Based Compensation or any other compensation due to the Executive Officer. In cases where recovery through future compensation is not feasible, the officer may be obligated to repay the amount directly to the Trusts or FDFM, as applicable.

FDFM will communicate the recovery action to shareholders, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders as required by applicable laws and regulations. Transparency will be maintained to the extent permitted by law. The Trusts will file all disclosures with respect to the Recovery Policy in accordance with the requirements of the Federal securities laws, including any disclosure required by the applicable regulatory filings.

FDFM will review this policy periodically and make any necessary amendments to comply with changes in regulations or best practices.

**Scope and Definitions**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.This policy applies to all Incentive-Based Compensation paid by the Trusts and received by a person:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) After beginning service as an Executive Officer of the Trusts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Who served as an Executive Officer of the Trusts at any time during the performance period for that Incentive-Based Compensation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) While the Trusts have a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or a national securities association; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) During the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Trusts are required to prepare an accounting restatement as described in paragraph (k)(1) of Cboe Rule 14.10 or (C)(1) of NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges). In addition to these last three completed fiscal years, this Recovery Policy applies to any transition period (that results from a change in a Trust's fiscal year) within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years. However, a transition period between the last day of a Trust's previous fiscal year end and the first day of its new fiscal year that comprises a period of nine to 12 months is be deemed a completed fiscal year. The Trusts' obligations to recover erroneously awarded compensation is not dependent on if or when the restated financial statements are filed.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.For purposes of determining the relevant recovery period, the date that the Trusts are required to prepare an accounting restatement as described in paragraph (k)(1) of Cboe Rule 14.10 or (C)(1) of NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges) is the earlier to occur of:<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The date the Trusts' board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, or the officer or officers of the Trusts (or persons serving equivalent functions) are authorized to take such action, or, if board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Trusts are required to prepare an accounting restatement as described in paragraph (k)(1) of Cboe Rule 14.10 or (C)(1) of NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges); or<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Trusts to prepare an accounting restatement as described in paragraph (k)(1) of Cboe Rule 14.10 or (C)(1) of NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges).<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.The amount of Incentive-based Compensation that must be subject to the Trust's recovery policy ("erroneously awarded compensation") is the amount of Incentive-based Compensation received that exceeds the amount of Incentive-based Compensation that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts, and must be computed without regard to any taxes paid. For Incentive-based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an accounting restatement: <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the accounting restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the Incentive-based Compensation was received; and<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•The Trusts must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the Exchanges.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.FDFM, on behalf of the Trusts, will be obligated to recover erroneously awarded compensation in accordance with this Recovery Policy in all cases, except for any such case where a committee of independent directors responsible for executive compensation decisions, or in the absence of such a committee, a majority of the independent directors serving on the FDFM board (or persons serving in similar capacities), make a determination that recovery would be impracticable for any of the following reasons:<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Impracticability may be determined if the direct expense paid to a third party for policy enforcement exceeds the amount to be recovered. Before such a determination, FDFM will attempt reasonable recovery efforts, document them, and provide such documentation to the Exchanges before deeming recovery impracticable.<br>

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Impracticability due to violation of home country law where such laws was adopted before November 28, 2022. Before concluding impracticability for such reason, FDFM will obtain an opinion from home country counsel, acceptable to the Exchanges, confirming that recovery would result in such a violation, and provide such opinion to the Exchanges.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the registrant, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.The Trusts are prohibited from indemnifying any Executive Officer or former Executive Officer against the loss of erroneously awarded compensation.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6.The Trusts must file all disclosures with respect to the Recovery Policy in accordance with the requirements of Federal securities laws, including the disclosure required by the applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7.Definitions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Executive Officer.* An executive officer is the issuer's president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the issuer in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the issuer. Executive officers of the issuer's parent(s) or subsidiaries are deemed executive officers of the issuer if they perform such policy making functions for the issuer. In addition, when the issuer is a limited partnership, officers or employees of the general partner(s) who perform policy-making functions for the limited partnership are deemed officers of the limited partnership. When the issuer is a Trust, officers, or employees of the Trustsee(s) who perform policy-making functions for the Trust are deemed officers of the Trust. Policy-making function is not intended to include policy-making functions that are not significant. Identification of an executive officer for purposes of paragraph (k)(1) of Cboe Rule 14.10 or (C)(1) of NYSE Arca Rule 5.3-E(p) (or equivalent rules of other listing exchanges) would include at a minimum executive officers identified pursuant to 17 CFR 229.401(b).<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Financial reporting measures.* Financial reporting measures are measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the issuer's financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return are also financial reporting measures. A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the Commission.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Incentive-Based Compensation.* Incentive-Based Compensation is any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the

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attainment of a financial reporting measure.<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•*Received.* Incentive-based compensation is deemed received in the issuer's fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period.

**V. Oversight Function**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•FDAM Compliance

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;•Asset Management Treasurer's Office

**VI. Methods of Conducting Oversight**

From time to time, Asset Management Treasurer's Office will monitor for any Incentive Based Compensation paid by the Trusts and will notify FDAM Compliance of any such compensation.

**VII. Attachments** 

**Schedule A**

**<u>SCHEDULE A</u>**

**<u>LIST OF FIDELITY DIGITAL ASSETS FUNDS:</u>**

Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund

Fidelity Ethereum Fund

Fidelity Solana Fund

------