ETHZilla Corp
For the period ended Oct 7, 2025. Filed Sep 5, 2025.
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What shareholders are asked to vote on at a company's meeting. It is where to find what directors and top executives are paid, and who owns the most shares.
Oct 7, 2025 · Filed Sep 5, 2025
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**UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
**Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
| Filed by the Registrant | ☒ |
|---|---|
| Filed by party other than the registrant | ☐ |
Check the appropriate box:
| ☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material under § 240 14a-12 |
**ETHZILLA CORPORATION
**(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
| ☒ | No fee required |
|---|
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
|---|
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
|---|
2875 South Ocean Blvd., Suite 200
Palm Beach, Florida 33480
September 5, 2025
To Our Stockholders:
The Board of Directors (“Board”) and officers of ETHZilla Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), join us in extending to you a cordial invitation to attend a virtual special meeting of stockholders, which we refer to as the Special Meeting or the Meeting, to be held (subject to postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof):
| Date: | October 7, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 9:00 am Pacific Time |
| Virtual Meeting Site: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM | |
You will not be able to attend the Special Meeting physically. The Special Meeting will be held via an audio teleconference. Stockholders may attend, vote and submit questions during the Special Meeting via the Internet by logging in athttps://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM, with your Control ID and Request ID, and thereafter following the instructions to join the virtual meeting. In addition to voting by submitting your proxy prior to the Special Meeting and/or voting online as discussed herein, you also will be able to vote your shares electronically during the Special Meeting with your Request ID.
The Notice of Special Meeting (“the “Notice”) and Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”), is also availableat https://www.iproxydirect.com/ethz or https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM. Stockholders may also request a copy of the Proxy Statement by contacting our main office at (650) 507-0669.
In connection with the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on certain proposals, which are more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, we urge you to read the Proxy Statement (and any documents incorporated into the Proxy Statement by reference) and consider such information carefully before voting. The Proxy Statement describes the business to be considered and acted upon by the stockholders at the Special Meeting. Please review these materials and vote your shares.
Your vote is very important. Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting virtually, if you are a holder of record of voting stock please submit your proxy by mail, fax, Internet or telephone as soon as possible to make sure that your shares are represented at the Special Meeting. If you hold your shares of Company stock in “street name” through a bank, broker, or other nominee, you must vote in accordance with the voting instructions provided to you by such bank, broker, or other nominee, which include instructions for voting by mail, Internet or telephone.
Our Board encourages your participation in the Company’s electoral process and, to that end, solicits your proxy with respect to the matters described in the Proxy Statement. Your vote and participation in our governance is very important to us.
Sincerely,
/s/ McAndrew Rudisill
McAndrew Rudisill
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman
Our Proxy Statement is available at the following cookies-free website that can be accessed anonymously:https://www.iproxydirect.com/ethz orhttps://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM. Stockholders may also vote prior to the meeting athttps://www.iproxydirect.com/ethz.
**ETHZILLA CORPORATION
**2875 South Ocean Blvd., Suite 200
Palm Beach, Florida 33480
**NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 7, 2025
To the Stockholders of ETHZilla Corporation:
We are pleased to provide you notice of, and to invite you to attend, a Special Meeting of the stockholders of ETHZilla Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ETHZilla”, the “Company”, “we” and “us”), which will be held on October 7, 2025, at 9:00 am, Pacific Time (subject to postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof), which we refer to as the Special Meeting, or the “Meeting”. The meeting will be held virtually via live audio webcast athttps://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM. See also “Instructions For The Virtual Special Meeting”, beginning on page 1. The Special Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect one Class II director to the Board to serve a term expiring at the Annual Meeting of stockholders to be held in 2026 and until such director’s successor has been elected and qualified, or until such director’s resignation or removal. The Board has nominated Jason New to serve as a Class II director and recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of Jason New to serve as a Class II director (the “Director Proposal”). |
| 2. | To approve the adoption of the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The Board recommends that you approve and ratify the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan Proposal”). |
| 3. | To approve the adoption of the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Supplemental Option Incentive Plan. The Board recommends that you approve and ratify the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Supplemental Option Incentive Plan (the “2025 Supplemental Plan Proposal”). |
| 4. | To approve the adoption of the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Second Supplemental Option Incentive Plan. The Board recommends that you approve and ratify the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Second Supplemental Option Incentive Plan (the “Second 2025 Supplemental Plan Proposal”). |
| 5. | To approve for purposes of complying with Section 5635(d) of the Listing Rules (the “Nasdaq Listing Rules”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock underlying senior secured convertible notes issued by us pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 8, 2025 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the investors named therein, without giving effect to the exchange cap in such senior secured convertible notes in an amount that may be equal to or exceed 20% of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such senior secured convertible notes (the “CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal”). The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal. |
| 6. | To approve an Amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the Company’s authorized number of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “common stock”) from one billion (1,000,000,000) shares to five billion (5,000,000,000) shares. The Board recommends that you approve an Amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the Company’s authorized number of shares of common stock from one billion (1,000,000,000) shares to five billion (5,000,000,000) shares (the “Authorized Shares Increase Proposal”). |
| 7. | To approve amendments to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to remove obsolete provisions and make certain other clarifying, technical and conforming changes. The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Clean-Up Amendment Proposal. |
| 8. | To approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary. The Board recommends that you approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Director Proposal, the Omnibus Plan Proposal, the 2025 Supplemental Plan Proposal, the Second 2025 Supplemental Plan Proposal, the CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal, the Authorized Share Increase Proposal and/or the Clean-Up Amendment Proposal. |
| 9. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting. |
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” ALL PROPOSALS.
Any action may be taken on any one of the foregoing proposals at the Meeting on the date specified above or on any date or dates to which the Meeting may be postponed or adjourned. We do not expect to transact any other business at the Special Meeting. Our Board has fixed the close of business on August 20, 2025, as the record date for determining those stockholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Accordingly, only common stockholders of record at the close of business on that date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting.
We cordially invite you to attend the Special Meeting. However, to ensure your representation at the Special Meeting, please authorize the individuals named on your proxy card to vote your shares by calling the toll-free telephone number, faxing your proxy card or by using the Internet as described in the instructions included with your proxy card or voting instruction card. Alternatively, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please complete, date, sign and promptly return the proxy card. This will not prevent you from voting at the meeting, but will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs. If your shares are held in “street name” by your broker or other nominee, only that holder can vote your shares and the vote cannot be cast unless you provide instructions to your broker. You should follow the directions provided by your broker regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted. Please review the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice for more complete information regarding the matters to be voted on at the meeting.
The enclosed Proxy Statement is first being mailed to stockholders on or about September 5, 2025, and is also available athttps://www.iproxydirect.com/ethz or https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/ethz2025SGM. Stockholders may also request a copy of the Proxy Statement by contacting our main office at (650) 507-0669.
Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting virtually, we request that you submit a proxy by following the instructions on your proxy card as soon as possible and thus ensure that your shares will be represented at the Special Meeting if you are unable to attend.
If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact our proxy agent, Equiniti Trust Company at (919) 481-4000, or 1-866-752-VOTE (8683).
By Order of the Board:
/s/ McAndrew Rudisill
McAndrew Rudisill
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman
Palm Beach, Florida
September 5, 2025
IMPORTANT: WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, WE ASK YOU TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE, MAIL, FAX OR ON THE INTERNET USING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| General Information | 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Information Contained in this Proxy Statement | 1 | |
| Instructions For The Virtual Special Meeting | 1 | |
| Questions During the Special Meeting | 2 | |
| Technical Difficulties or Trouble Accessing the Virtual Meeting Website | 2 | |
| Record Date and Shares Entitled to Vote | 2 | |
| Voting Process | 2 | |
| Providing and Revoking Proxies | 3 | |
| Meeting Time and Location: Virtual Special Meeting | 3 | |
| Conduct at the Meeting | 3 | |
| Voting Requirements for Each of the Proposals | 4 | |
| Quorum | 5 | |
| Board Voting Recommendations | 5 | |
| Mailing Costs and Solicitation of Proxies | 6 | |
| Inspector of Voting | 6 | |
| Stockholders Entitled to Vote at the Meeting | 6 | |
| Voting Instructions | 6 | |
| Confidential Voting | 6 | |
| Stockholder of Record and Shares Held in Brokerage Accounts | 6 | |
| Multiple Stockholders Sharing the Same Address | 6 | |
| Voting Results | 7 | |
| Company Mailing Address | 7 | |
| Other Matters | 7 | |
| Background of the Company | 7 | |
| Definitions | 8 | |
| Forward-Looking Statements and Website Links | 8 | |
| Incorporation by Reference | 8 | |
| References to Additional Information | 8 | |
| Voting Rights and Principal Stockholders | 9 | |
| Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners and Management | 9 | |
| Change of Control | 12 | |
| Corporate Governance | 12 | |
| Board Leadership Structure | 12 | |
| Risk Oversight | 12 | |
| Family Relationships | 13 | |
| Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings | 13 | |
| Board Meetings | 13 | |
| Board Committee Membership | 14 | |
| Audit Committee | 14 | |
| Compensation Committee | 15 | |
| Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 15 | |
| Nominating and Governance Committee | 16 | |
| Website Availability of Documents | 16 | |
| Stockholder Communications with the Board | 16 | |
| Lead Independent Director | 16 |
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| Executive Sessions of the Board | 17 | |
| Code of Ethics | 17 | |
| Policy on Equity Ownership | 17 | |
| Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans | 17 | |
| Compensation Recovery and Clawback Policies | 17 | |
| Insider Trading/Anti-Hedging Policies | 17 | |
| Policy on Timing of Award Grants | 18 | |
| Director Independence | 18 | |
| Information About Our Executive Officers and Directors | 19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Officers | 19 | |
| Classified Board | 19 | |
| Director Nominees | 20 | |
| Board Nominee | 20 | |
| Continuing Directors | 21 | |
| Director Qualifications | 22 | |
| Executive and Director Compensation | 23 | |
| Summary Executive Compensation Table | 23 | |
| Bonuses | 25 | |
| Current Compensation Agreements | 25 | |
| EVL Consulting Agreement | 25 | |
| Prior Compensation Agreements | 26 | |
| Jordan Consulting Agreement and Separation Agreement | 26 | |
| Prior Employment Agreements | 28 | |
| James N. Woody Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (terminated); and Separation Agreement | 28 | |
| Dr. Rothbard’s Employment Agreement (terminated); and Separation Agreement | 30 | |
| Ozan Pamir Katexco Employment Agreement (Terminated) | 31 | |
| Ozan Pamir Company Employment Agreement (Terminated) | 31 | |
| Quan Anh Vu Executive Employment Agreement (terminated); and Separation Agreement | 32 | |
| Description of Material Consulting Agreements | 32 | |
| Service Agreement with Prof. Sir Marc Feldmann (former Co-Executive Chairman)(Terminated) | 32 | |
| Consultancy Agreement and Consulting Agreement with Prof. Lawrence Steinman | 34 | |
| Prof. Jagdeep Nanchahal Consulting Agreement | 35 | |
| Payment of Back Pay; 2021 Bonuses and Increases in Salaries | 36 | |
| 2024 Accruals | 37 | |
| 2022, 2023 and 2024 Bonuses | 37 | |
| 2025 Bonuses | 37 | |
| Option and Restricted Stock Grants; Accelerated Vesting | 38 | |
| Pay Versus Performance | 39 | |
| Relationship Between “Compensation Actually Paid” and Performance | 42 | |
| Compensation Actually Paid and Net Loss | 42 | |
| Compensation Actually Paid and Cumulative TSR | 43 | |
| Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End | 43 | |
| Payments Upon Termination and Potential Payments Upon Termination | 43 | |
| Director Compensation | 44 | |
| Board Fees | 45 | |
| Release Agreement | 45 | |
| Accelerated Vesting of February 2025 Restricted Stock Awards | 45 | |
| June 2025 Option Grants | 45 | |
| June 2025 Restricted Stock Awards | 46 | |
| Option Grants; Accelerated Vesting | 46 | |
| Equity Compensation Plan Information | 47 | |
| 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan | 47 | |
| 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan | 47 | |
| 2025 Option Incentive Plan | 48 | |
| 2025 Supplemental Option Incentive Plan | 48 | |
| 2025 Second Supplemental Option Incentive Plan | 49 | |
| Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions | 49 | |
| Related Party Agreements | 49 | |
| Service Agreement with Prof. Sir Marc Feldmann | 49 | |
| Prof. Jagdeep Nanchahal Consulting Agreement | 49 | |
| Prof. Lawrence Steinman Consultancy Agreement and Consulting Agreement | 49 |
ii
| Jordan Consulting Agreement | 49 | |
| EVL Consulting Agreement | 50 | |
| PIPE Equity Financing | 50 | |
| Voting Agreements | 50 | |
| Conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock | 51 | |
| Elray and Luxor Settlement Agreement | 51 | |
| General and Administrative - Related Parties | 52 | |
| Accounts Payable - Related Parties | 52 | |
| Research and Development Expenses - Related Parties | 52 | |
| Release Agreement with Jay Goodman | 52 | |
| Accelerated RSU Vesting, Accelerated Option Vesting, Restricted Stock Grants and Option Grants | 52 | |
| Related Party Litigation | 52 | |
| Action Against Former Executive of KBL | 52 | |
| Action Against the Company by Dr. Krauss | 53 | |
| Action Against Tyche Capital LLC | 54 | |
| Action Against Ronald Bauer & Samantha Bauer | 55 | |
| Declaratory Relief Action Against the Company by AmTrust International | 55 | |
| Indemnification Agreements | 56 | |
| Related Party Transaction Policy | 57 | |
| Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | 57 | |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 Election of Directors | 58 | |
| General | 58 | |
| General Director Qualifications | 58 | |
| Transactions with Mr. New | 58 | |
| What Vote Is Required To Elect the Director Nominee | 58 | |
| Recommendation of the Board | 58 | |
| Proposal 2 Adoption of the ETHZilla 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan | 59 | |
| General | 59 | |
| Purpose of the Omnibus Plan | 59 | |
| Reasons for the Proposal to Approve the Omnibus Plan | 59 | |
| Overhang | 59 | |
| Summary of the Material Terms of the Omnibus Plan | 60 | |
| Federal Income Tax Consequences | 65 | |
| New Plan Benefits | 66 | |
| Vote Required | 66 | |
| Recommendation of the Board | 66 | |
| Proposal 3 Approval of the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Supplemental Option Incentive Plan | 67 | |
| General | 67 | |
| 2025 Supplemental Plan Option Grants | 67 | |
| Background and Purpose of the 2025 Supplemental Plan | 67 | |
| Summary of the Material Terms of the 2025 Supplemental Plan | 68 | |
| Federal Income Tax Consequences | 71 | |
| Effect of Approval | 72 | |
| Vote Required | 72 | |
| Recommendation of the Board | 72 | |
| Proposal 4 Approval of the ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Second Supplemental Option Incentive Plan | 73 | |
| General | 73 | |
| Second 2025 Supplemental Plan Option Grants | 73 | |
| Background and Purpose of the Second 2025 Supplemental Plan | 73 | |
| Summary of the Material Terms of the Second 2025 Supplemental Plan | 74 | |
| Federal Income Tax Consequences | 77 | |
| Effect of Approval | 78 | |
| Vote Required | 78 | |
| Recommendation of the Board | 78 |
iii
| Proposal 5 Approval of the CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal | 79 | |
|---|---|---|
| General | 79 | |
| General Terms of the Convertible Notes | 79 | |
| Conversion | 79 | |
| Exchange Cap | 80 | |
| Why does the Company need Stockholder Approval? | 80 | |
| What is the Effect on Current Stockholders if the CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal is Approved? | 80 | |
| Effect of Elimination of Exchange Cap | 81 | |
| What is the Effect on Current Stockholders if the CN Nasdaq 20% Cap Removal Proposal is not Approved? | 81 | |
| Repayment of the Convertible Notes in Cash | 81 | |
| Potential Future Dilution | 81 | |
| Obligation to Continue to Seek Approval | 81 | |
| Where can I find more information regarding the Convertible Notes? | 82 | |
| Required Vote of Stockholders | 82 | |
| Recommendation of the Board | 82 | |
| Proposal 6 Approval of an Amendment to Our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Company’s Authorized Number of Shares of Common Stock From One Billion (1,000,000,000) to Five Billion (5,000,000,000) | 83 | |
| General | 83 | |
| Reasons for the Amendment | 83 | |
| Summary Table of Potential Effects of Authorized Share Increase | 84 | |
| No Dissenters’ Rights | 85 | |
| Effective Time and Implementation of the Authorized Shares Increase Amendment | 85 | |
| Vote Required | 85 | |
| Board Recommendation | 85 | |
| Proposal 7 Approval Of Amendments to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Remove Obsolete Provisions and to Make Certain Other Clarifying, Technical and Conforming Changes | 86 | |
| General | 86 | |
| No Dissenters’ Rights | 86 | |
| Effective Time and Implementation of the Clean-Up Amendment | 86 | |
| Vote Required | 86 | |
| Board Recommendation | 86 | |
| Proposal 8 Adjournment of the Special Meeting to Solicit Additional Proxies | 87 | |
| Overview | 87 | |
| Vote Required | 87 | |
| Board Recommendation | 87 | |
| Other Matters | 88 | |
| Additional Filings | 88 | |
| Other Matters to be Presented at the Special Meeting | 88 | |
| Interest of Certain Persons in or Opposition to Matters to Be Acted Upon: | 89 | |
| Incorporation by Reference | 89 | |
| Company Contact Information | 89 |
Appendixes
A – ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan
B – ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Supplemental Option Incentive Plan
C – ETHZilla Corporation 2025 Second Supplemental Option Incentive Plan
D – Form of Certificate of Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ETHZilla Corporation (for increase in authorized shares)
E – Form of Certificate of Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ETHZilla Corporation (to remove obsolete provisions and make certain other clarifying, technical and conforming changes)
F – Marked changes to Article IV, Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to show changes following the adoption of the Certificate of Amendment attached as Appendix E
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**PROXY STATEMENT
FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.