BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), the crypto treasury company led by Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, has significantly expanded its Ethereum holdings by staking an additional 86,400 ETH. This allocation, valued at approximately $266.3 million to $268.7 million, was executed in four separate transactions on Saturday, January 11, 2026.
This latest move pushes BitMine's total staked Ethereum to 1,080,512 ETH, a milestone that crosses the one-million-ETH threshold. At current valuations, this stake is worth roughly $3.33 billion, solidifying BitMine's position as one of the largest institutional participants in Ethereum's proof-of-stake ecosystem.
The scale of this commitment highlights a clear institutional strategy focused on long-term yield generation and network participation over short-term price speculation. By locking such a substantial amount of ETH, BitMine signals strong confidence in Ethereum's future, not only as a digital asset but as a foundational settlement and smart contract layer for the digital economy.
Market analyst Nic Puckrin noted the financial implications, stating, "BitMine has now staked about $3.3 billion worth of ETH. At the current 2.81% yield, that generates roughly $94.4 million per year in ETH." He contrasted this with Bitcoin's lack of native yield, posing the question of which asset class might better weather a potential future crypto winter.
This staking activity has a direct impact on Ethereum's market structure. Large-scale staking reduces the liquid supply of ETH available on exchanges, which can tighten market conditions during periods of rising demand. As more ETH becomes locked for yield, selling pressure diminishes, potentially amplifying positive price movements while simultaneously reinforcing network security through higher validator participation.
The milestone comes during a turbulent period for crypto treasury companies, with many seeing their share prices collapse from all-time highs. BitMine's own stock is down over 80% from its peak of $161 per share in July 2025, currently trading around $30.06. In a related corporate development, Chairman Tom Lee recently urged shareholders to approve a proposal to increase the company's authorized share limit from 50 million to 50 billion shares—a 1000x increase—to accommodate future stock splits aimed at keeping the share price around $25.
BitMine's growing ETH position reflects a broader trend of corporations and institutional funds treating Ethereum as a yield-generating digital asset rather than a purely speculative instrument. With staking yields remaining attractive and institutional infrastructure maturing, Ethereum continues to solidify its position as the dominant smart contract platform for long-term capital allocation.
