Bitmine stakes $4bn Ethereum. Why Tom Lee forecasts price jump in 2026

Core Insights - Bitmine is staking nearly $4 billion worth of Ethereum, representing about one-third of its total holdings of $13 billion, positioning itself as the largest staking provider in the crypto ecosystem with projected annualized revenue of $374 million [1] - Bitmine owns 3.45% of the total Ethereum supply and aims to increase this to 5%, despite Ethereum trading 37% below its all-time high [2] - The overall crypto market has seen a significant decline, losing $1 trillion in value, with current market capitalization at $3.1 trillion, which is 27% lower than its peak in October [2] Company Developments - Bitmine has received backing from prominent institutional investors, including Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Cathie Wood's ARK Invest, making it the largest Ethereum treasury globally [1] - The company recently purchased an additional $76 million worth of Ethereum, indicating continued investment in the asset [5] Market Context - Despite the downturn in crypto prices, Ethereum is gaining traction on Wall Street, with JPMorgan selecting it for its first tokenized money market fund valued at $9 trillion, and Morgan Stanley filing for an Ethereum exchange-traded fund [5] - Bitmine's strategy comes at a challenging time for Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs), which have faced pressure as many public firms transitioning to DATs are trading below their underlying crypto asset values [4] Future Outlook - Tom Lee, a prominent figure in the Ethereum space, predicts a bullish future for Ethereum, suggesting a potential price of $250,000 per Ethereum, equating to a $30 trillion valuation for the blockchain's token [6] - Lee anticipates that 2026 will be a year of recovery for crypto prices, with stronger gains expected in 2027-2028, likening the current market conditions to a "mini crypto winter" [7]