BitMine Holds 3.5% of Ethereum Supply: What’s Next?

BitMine Holds 3.5% of Ethereum Supply: What’s Next?

BitMine Now Holds 3.5% of Ethereum’s Total Supply in Landmark Accumulation

A Strategic Bet on Ethereum’s Future

Generally, BitMine’s aggressive accumulation of Ethereum reflects a long-term strategy to secure a big stake in the world’s second-largest crypto, I think. Naturally, the firm, listed on NYSE American under BMNR, has been buying ETH steadily since late 2025 and the pace jumped big time in the last few months. Obviously, in the week ending Jan 26 it scooped up 40,302 ETH, about $110 million, showing they aren’t scared of market swings. Clearly, their goal is to own 5% of all ETH, they call it the “alchemy of 5%”.

Usually, that means another 1.76 million ETH, roughly $5.2 billion today, still a huge ask but the numbers are moving fast. Apparently, BitMine is determined to reach this goal, and their actions are being closely watched by the crypto community. Normally, a firm like BitMine would not make such a bold move without careful consideration.

Market Conditions and Recent Performance

Currently, Ethereum’s price has been wobblin’, down 8.4% over the past week and hit a low of $2,787, yet it nudged up 2.0% in the last hour to $2,940.44, maybe a sign of fresh buying. Essentially, BitMine’s “buy the dip” move shows they trust ETH’s long-term value. Generally, their treasury now holds:
* 4.24 million ETH (≈ $12.33 B)
* 193 BTC
* $682 M cash
* $200 M stake in Beast Industries
* Equity in Eightco Holdings

Evidently, total assets top $12.8 billion, making BitMine one of the biggest institutional crypto players. Normally, a firm with such a large portfolio would be expected to have a significant impact on the market.

Staking for Passive Income

Besides holding, BitMine is staking a chunk of its ETH. As of Jan 25, 2.01 million ETH were staked, that’s about 47% of its total holdings, worth $5.7 billion. At the current 2.81% yield that translates to roughly $374 M a year, or over $1 M a day. Right now they use external providers, but they plan to roll out their own Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) in early 2026, which could boost their influence even more.

Why Ethereum? Insights from Tom Lee

Tom Lee, BitMine’s chairman, talked about Ethereum at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying institutions are eyeing it for tokenization and finance infrastructure. He sees ETH as a bridge between TradFi, crypto, and AI, and his bullish tone matches the company’s heavy buying. Generally, Tom Lee’s comments suggest that BitMine is committed to Ethereum for the long haul.

What This Means for the Crypto Market

BitMine’s massive stake could spark several ripple effects:
1. More institutional confidence, other big players might follow.
2. Supply constraints, 3.5% held by one firm could tighten liquidity, nudging prices up if demand stays strong.
3. Staking dominance, their growing validator presence could shape PoS dynamics.
4. Regulatory attention, regulators may watch a single entity holding that much ETH.

Looking Ahead: The Path to 5%

The road to 5% is still on the table. If BitMine keeps buying at the current clip, they could hit that target in the next 12-18 months, assuming markets stay friendly and capital’s available. Investors will be watching every move, especially as ETH price swings and institutional adoption speeds up. With both holding and staking tactics, BitMine isn’t just betting on price, they’re trying to become a core pillar of Ethereum’s future. Normally, such a bold move would come with significant risks, but BitMine seems confident in their strategy.