Ethereum treasury firm Bitmine has officially entered Ethereum staking, depositing nearly $219 million worth of Ether into the network’s proof-of-stake (PoS) system. The move marks Bitmine’s first large-scale staking activity and signals growing institutional confidence in Ethereum’s yield-generating infrastructure.
On Sunday, blockchain data revealed that multiple wallets linked to Bitmine transferred a total of 74,880 ETH to a contract labeled “BatchDeposit.” According to onchain analytics platform Arkham, this transaction pattern is commonly used by institutions to pool funds before activating Ethereum validators.
Crypto analyst EmberCN described the development as a milestone, noting that Bitmine has now begun earning staking rewards on its Ether holdings. With Ethereum staking yields currently around 3.12% annually, even partial participation could generate substantial returns.
At current market prices, the deposited ETH represents approximately $219 million. If Bitmine were to stake its entire Ether balance, analysts estimate the company could earn more than 126,000 ETH annually, translating into hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue depending on market conditions.
Bitmine’s Ethereum Treasury Surpasses 4 Million ETH
The staking deposits come shortly after Bitmine’s Ethereum treasury crossed a major threshold. Earlier this week, the firm confirmed that it now holds more than 4.06 million ETH following an additional $40 million purchase.
Over the past seven days alone, Bitmine added close to 100,000 ETH to its balance sheet, acquiring the tokens at an average price of $2,991 each. This aggressive accumulation strategy has positioned Bitmine as the largest known Ethereum treasury holder globally.
While the company previously announced plans to begin staking in the first quarter of 2026, the recent deposits suggest that Bitmine may be accelerating its timeline. In November, Bitmine disclosed plans for a proprietary staking infrastructure known as the Made-in-America Validator Network (MAVAN). The initiative includes partnerships with three institutional staking providers and was designed to test performance, security, and operational reliability before full-scale deployment.
The latest activity indicates that Bitmine is already laying the groundwork for validator operations, even as it continues to expand its ETH reserves.
Institutional Ethereum Staking and TVL Growth Outlook
Bitmine’s move reflects a broader trend of institutional engagement with Ethereum. As more large holders seek yield through staking, Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL) could see dramatic growth over the coming years.
Joseph Chalom, co-CEO of Sharplink Gaming, recently suggested that Ethereum’s TVL could increase by as much as tenfold by 2026. Sharplink currently ranks as the second-largest public Ethereum treasury holder, with nearly 798,000 ETH valued at approximately $2.33 billion.
Chalom highlighted stablecoins as a major catalyst for this growth. He projects that the global stablecoin market could reach $500 billion by the end of next year, representing a roughly 62% increase from current levels. Since more than half of all stablecoin activity already takes place on Ethereum, continued issuance and transaction growth could significantly boost network usage, staking demand, and overall TVL.
As firms like Bitmine transition from passive ETH holding to active participation in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem, institutional staking is increasingly shaping the network’s long-term economic landscape.
