BitMine frantically increased its holdings of Ethereum: its holdings exceeded 4.11 million, and institutional "bets" heralded a new chapter in ETH prices?

In the last week of 2025, global capital markets are preparing for the New Year holiday, while the cryptocurrency industry is witnessing a stunning “year-end sprint.” The publicly listed company BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) officially disclosed that during the week ending December 28, the company once again invested approximately $130 million, acquiring an additional 44,463 ETH (ETH). This transaction is no small feat; it marks the official突破 of BitMine’s total Ethereum holdings to over 4.11 million, reaching an astonishing 4,110,525 ETH.

This move is not only a milestone in BitMine’s strategic development but also a key indicator for observing the prospects of cryptocurrency concept stocks and the Ethereum market. As Wall Street accelerates its embrace of asset tokenization, the value of Ethereum is being redefined. Does BitMine’s aggressive expansion signal that ETH prices are about to enter a new chapter?

BitMine’s Ethereum “Vault”: Scale, Strategy, and Ambition

According to disclosed data, BitMine’s current holding of 4.11 million ETH has a market value of approximately $12.04 billion, accounting for 3.41% of the total Ethereum supply. This means that for every 100 ETH in circulation globally, more than 3 are held by BitMine. Even more noteworthy is its “interest-earning” asset allocation strategy. Among this massive holding, 409,000 ETH have been staked, with an estimated annualized yield of about 2.81%. This is not just simple asset holding; it involves active management through participation in Ethereum network security operations to generate ongoing income.

BitMine’s ambitions go far beyond this. The company publicly states that its ultimate goal is to hold 5% of the total Ethereum supply, aiming to become the “world’s largest Ethereum vault.” To realize this ambition, BitMine is vigorously promoting its MAVAN (U.S. validation network) staking solution, which is planned to go live in the first quarter of 2026. This initiative aims to provide compliant, efficient staking services for institutional clients, further consolidating its core position within the Ethereum ecosystem.

The company’s overall financial strength provides a solid backing for its ambitions. BitMine disclosed that its total crypto assets and cash reserves have reached $13.2 billion. To support future expansion, the company has scheduled its annual shareholder meeting for January 15, 2026, in Las Vegas, to review four key proposals, including authorized share capital increase and incentive plans.

Current Ethereum Situation: Price Breaks $3,000, Market Sentiment Revealed by Gate Platform Data

BitMine’s significant accumulation at this time is closely related to Ethereum’s current market performance. According to Gate’s market data, as of December 30, 2025, the highest price of ETH/USDT was reported at $3,002.83. Although this price broke the psychological barrier of $3,000, it injected strong confidence into the market.

Additionally, Gate’s own Ethereum staking data also reflects a long-term optimistic sentiment. Previously, the total ETH staked on Gate surpassed 165,600 ETH, with an estimated annualized yield of 9.85%. Despite recent market fluctuations, continuous staking behavior indicates that a considerable number of investors prefer to lock assets for long-term gains rather than short-term trading.

Price Forecast Divergence: Wall Street Bullishness and Internal Caution Reports Coexist

Tom Lee, Chairman of BitMine and a well-known Wall Street analyst, has been a vocal supporter of Ethereum. In a recent CNBC interview, he predicted that driven by Wall Street’s accelerating asset tokenization wave, Ethereum prices could reach between $7,000 and $9,000 by early 2026, and he also proposed a long-term target of $20,000. This optimistic outlook positions Ethereum as a major beneficiary of the integration of traditional finance and blockchain technology.

However, the market is not unanimous. Dramatically, the internal strategy report from Fundstrat, founded by Tom Lee, presents a very different cautious view. The internal report predicts that in the first half of 2026, crypto assets may experience significant retracement, with Ethereum’s target range potentially dropping to $1,800–$2,000. This discrepancy between public bullish statements and internal risk warnings reveals the multiple considerations institutions face in a complex market.

Insights and Outlook: Re-evaluating the Value of Cryptocurrency Concept Stocks

BitMine’s continuous accumulation provides an excellent case for observing cryptocurrency concept stocks. These companies are no longer just tech stocks involved in blockchain technology; their large digital asset holdings (especially ETH) are becoming core value drivers. As Ethereum’s price fluctuates, the asset value and stock prices of these companies will also be directly linked.

For ordinary investors, BitMine’s moves offer several insights:

1. Deepening institutionalization: Large listed companies increasingly treat cryptocurrencies as strategic assets, an irreversible trend.
2. Rise of staking economy: Earning yields through staking has become an important model for institutional management of crypto assets, providing more stable long-term support for the Ethereum network.
3. Diversified investment channels: Besides directly purchasing ETH, paying attention to and researching listed companies like BitMine with transparent crypto asset reserves offers another way to participate in the crypto market.

BitMine’s heavy accumulation at the end of 2025 not only sets a new record as an “Ethereum whale” but also signals the market’s firm confidence in Ethereum’s underlying value and its central role in the wave of financial tokenization. Although short-term price movements are debated, the long-term narrative of Ethereum as a smart contract platform and the preferred infrastructure for institutional asset onboarding remains strong.

When a listed company aspires to become the world’s largest Ethereum vault, it is betting not just on the price of digital currencies but on the grand vision of blockchain technology reshaping the future financial system. This “institutional hoarding wave” led by BitMine may just be beginning.