Ethereum News Today: BitMine's ETH Grab Positions Ethereum as Institutional Infrastructure

BitMine Technologies has significantly expanded its Ethereum (ETH) holdings, purchasing 202,037 ETH during recent market volatility, according to statements from chairman Tom Lee. This acquisition brings the firm's total ETH holdings to over 3.03 million, representing approximately 2.5% of Ethereum's circulating supply. The move follows a sharp decline in ETH prices, which fell from $4,500 to as low as $3,430 amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and a broader crypto market crash that wiped out nearly $20 billion in leveraged positions.

The purchase aligns with BitMine's strategic goal of accumulating 5% of Ethereum's total supply, equivalent to roughly 6.04 million ETH. At current prices, the firm's holdings are valued at approximately $12.6 billion, positioning it as the largest institutional Ethereum treasury and the second-largest public crypto treasury globally, trailing only Michael Saylor's Bitcoin-focused Strategy Inc. Institutional backers, including Ark Invest, Founders Fund, and Pantera, have supported BitMine's aggressive accumulation, which includes staking strategies to generate yield.

The market context for this expansion was marked by extreme volatility. On October 11, 2025, U.S. President Trump's announcement of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods triggered a flash crash, with Ethereum tumbling 11.5% in a single day. BitMine capitalized on the downturn, leveraging its liquidity to acquire assets at discounted prices. Lee emphasized that volatility creates opportunities, according to FXLeaders, stating, "Assets trade at substantial discounts to fundamentals during deleveraging events, offering advantages at the expense of traders."

BitMine's strategy has broader implications for Ethereum's market dynamics. Its holdings now exceed those of other major treasuries, including SharpLink and The Ether Machine, which hold 838,730 ETH and 496,710 ETH, respectively. The firm's stock (BMNR) has also seen heightened trading activity, with an average five-day volume of $3.5 billion, reflecting investor confidence in its treasury model.

The Ethereum price rebounded over 20% from its October lows to around $4,150, driven by institutional accumulation and whale activity. Technical indicators, including a 50% Fibonacci retracement level at $4,111 and a flattening MACD histogram, suggest potential for further upside if buying momentum persists. However, macroeconomic risks, such as the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting and China's trade policies, remain critical factors for near-term price stability.

BitMine's approach underscores a shift in institutional adoption from Bitcoin to Ethereum, with the latter increasingly viewed as a yield-generating and programmable asset. The firm's focus on Ethereum aligns with broader trends, including the integration of blockchain into artificial intelligence and real-world asset tokenization. As Ethereum prepares for the Fusaka upgrade in December 2025, which aims to enhance scalability, BitMine's treasury strategy may further solidify Ethereum's role as a foundational infrastructure for institutional finance.