Carbon nanotubes loaded by different ratios of core-shell structured ruthenium platinum nanoparticles (Ru@Pt/CNTs) were prepared by ethanol reduction methods and used as anodic catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells. The structures of the as synthesized catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that Ru@Pt/CNTs nanoparticles formed a core-shell structure (the core was ruthenium and the shell was platinum). Meanwhile, the electrochemical measurements demonstrates Ru@Pt/CNTs exhibits ultrahigh electrochemical catalytic activity(Ru@Pt0.75/CNTs，1 767.77 mA/mg Pt) and durability(Ru@Pt1.0 CNTs, CV decay of 19.7% after 250 test cycles) in ethanol electro-oxidation reaction(EOR) compared with commercial Pt/C catalysts. Therefore, the Ru@Pt/CNTs nanoparticles with core-shell structure have an excellent catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation.