Bitmine staking positions surge, attracting attention; institutions increase holdings, Ethereum strategy begins to take shape

Ethereum staking scale becomes a market focus. Led by well-known Wall Street analyst Tom Lee, Bitmine Immersion (NASDAQ: BMNR) shows signs of actively expanding its Ethereum holdings. After a routine increase last week, Bitmine’s Ethereum staking position has seen a significant growth, surging from about 660,000 to 1,250,000 tokens, nearly doubling, demonstrating institutional confidence in Ethereum’s long-term development.

Record High Holdings, Institutions Continue to Add

According to Bitmine’s latest public announcement on Monday, the firm has continued to buy 24,266 ETH, bringing its total holdings to 4,167,768 ETH. Based on the current market price of $2.99K, this new position is worth approximately $72.6 million, and the total value of the entire crypto asset portfolio has reached $14 billion. As a former participant in the crypto winter, Bitmine’s continued allocation to Ethereum highlights institutional investors’ reassessment of market prospects.

Staking Strategy Upgrade, Market Expectations Clear

The doubling of staking scale is not a coincidence but reflects a positive outlook for the Ethereum ecosystem’s future. Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Global Digital Asset Research at Standard Chartered Bank, recently stated, “2026 will be the year of Ethereum,” implying the bank’s expectation of ETH reaching $7,500. This aligns closely with Tom Lee’s market judgment, who pointed out in a statement that this year will see multiple positive factors for the crypto market—such as the proliferation of stablecoins and the advancement of asset tokenization—driving blockchain technology to become the settlement infrastructure on Wall Street, which is especially favorable for Ethereum’s development.

Market Cycle Analysis, Long-term Positioning Takes Shape

Behind Bitmine’s increased holdings is a clear recognition of the market cycle by institutions. According to their view, although the leverage washout after October 2025 resembles a “mini crypto winter,” it also presents a strategic opportunity. Institutions expect 2026 to be the year of a price recovery, with 2027 to 2028 entering a stronger upward cycle. This strategic positioning reflects that institutional investors are preparing for the arrival of the next market cycle.