BitMine Makes $451 Million ETH Staking Play - Betting Big on Ethereum’s Future

BitMine just threw its hat—and a mountain of capital—into the Ethereum staking ring. This isn't a toe-dip; it's a cannonball.

The $451 Million Signal

Forget small-scale experiments. A deposit of $451 million worth of ETH speaks a language Wall Street understands: conviction. It signals a major institutional player is not just holding Ethereum—it's actively putting it to work within the network's new proof-of-stake security model. This move validates the staking economy as a viable, large-scale revenue stream.

Why Staking, Why Now?

Staking transforms idle crypto assets into productive ones, generating yield in exchange for securing the blockchain. For a firm like BitMine, it's a strategic pivot from pure trading or mining to capturing network-native returns. It's a long-term bet on Ethereum's utility and stability—a stark contrast to the short-term speculation that still dominates headlines (and, let's be honest, most traders' portfolios).

The Institutional Floodgates

BitMine's entry isn't an isolated event. It's a precursor. This scale of commitment paves the way for other traditional finance giants to follow, bringing more liquidity and legitimacy to the staking landscape. It turns a niche crypto activity into a mainstream asset management strategy.

A Calculated Power Move

This deposit does more than earn yield. It increases BitMine's influence within the Ethereum ecosystem. More staked ETH means more say in network governance and security—a subtle but significant shift in power dynamics. They're not just investing in ETH; they're investing in its operational future.

So, while retail traders chase the next meme coin, the smart money is building infrastructure. BitMine's $451 million bet is a stark reminder that in crypto, the real fortunes aren't just made in the trading pits—they're earned by those who help build and secure the digital economy itself. The cynic might call it a desperate hunt for yield in a zero-rate world. The pragmatist sees it as finance, finally catching up.

How Much Would BitMine Make From Ethereum Staking?

In the early hours of Saturday, December 27, on-chain analyst EmberCN revealed that BitMine has finally started attempting to stake its Ether holdings to earn interest income. The largest ethereum treasury firm deposited 74,880 ETH (equivalent to $219 million) into an Ethereum PoS contract.

In a later, separate transaction, BitMine went on to deposit 79,296 ETH (worth about $232 million) into Ethereum PoS staking. This brings the firm’s total stake in the ETH network to 154,176 ETH (roughly $451 million) in the past day and so far.

EmberCN added in the post on X:

They [BitMine] now hold 4.066 million ETH, with an approximate APY of 3.12%. If all of it were staked, they could earn about 126,800 ETH in interest over a year, which at the current price of $2,927 WOULD be worth $371 million.

Earlier in November, Bitmine had disclosed its plans to start Ether staking in 2026’s first quarter through a dedicated in-house setup called the Made-in America Validator Network (MAVAN). At the time, the Ethereum treasury firm stated it had selected three institutional staking providers for a pilot program, using a small portion of its ETH to test performance, security, and operational quality before scaling.

Meanwhile, the treasury firm has not stopped accumulating Ether tokens despite the not-so-optimistic signs in the crypto market. The recent buying spree took BitMine’s Ethereum holdings to a whopping 4.066 million ETH.

As it appears, staking presents an opportunity for the largest corporate ETH holder to earn passive income from its Ethereum holdings, especially as the general market continues to underperform. With crypto prices in a downward trend, shares of most DATs have not been able to enjoy the required tailwind to soar to new heights.

BMNR 2025 Price Recap 

As of this writing, the BitMine stock (ticker: BMNR) is valued at around $28.31 per share, closing with an almost 4% decline on the last trading day. A broader look at the stock shows that the past few months have been rough for the digital asset treasuries sector.

According to data from TradingView, BMNR’s value has dropped by nearly 43% in the past three months. However, its is worth noting that the stock has grown by almost 2.5x in the past year.