BitMine's unrealized loss exceeds $6 billion, but Tom Lee claims this is "part of the plan," as Ethereum whale fragmentation intensifies.

ETH-3,33%

As Ethereum prices continue to weaken, global large-scale Ethereum asset management firm BitMine Immersion Technologies is under unprecedented accounting pressure. Data shows that the company’s unrealized losses have exceeded $6 billion. However, Chairman Tom Lee stated that this is an inherent feature of their Ethereum reserve model and not a management mistake.

Market data indicates that Ethereum has fallen over 24% in the past week, dropping to $2,109 at one point, hitting a multi-month low. The price correction has directly amplified the unrealized losses of digital asset reserve companies. CryptoQuant data shows that BitMine’s current Ethereum paper losses are approximately $6.4 billion. Despite concerns that such a large holding could limit future price flexibility, Lee responded on social media that the company’s structure is designed to track and amplify Ethereum’s performance over its full cycle, and the short-term pullback is merely a temporary phenomenon.

“When the market weakens, BMNR’s holdings naturally show unrealized losses, which is a result of the market mechanism itself,” Lee said, reiterating his long-term view on Ethereum’s value.

On-chain data also shows that BitMine has not exited the market due to the decline. Over the past month, the company increased its holdings by more than 141,000 ETH, bringing the total to approximately 4.285 million ETH. Meanwhile, some dormant addresses and large off-market funds have been accumulating at low prices, indicating that some long-term capital is still adding positions.

However, the market is not one-sided. Trend Research, led by Jack Yi, is accelerating its reduction of holdings. On-chain monitoring shows that the organization has recently transferred out a large amount of ETH, totaling over 150,000 ETH. During its deleveraging process, it has incurred losses of over $500 million and faces further liquidation pressure due to downward movement.

On one side, BitMine continues to expand its holdings, while on the other, Trend Research is actively reducing its positions. This strategic divergence highlights the game dynamics of the Ethereum market in February 2026. Amidst volatile price swings, institutional risk and cycle assessments are shaping the next phase of market direction.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Price predictions 4/1: BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, LINK

Key points: Buyers will have to sustain Bitcoin above $69,000 to gain the upper hand in the short term. Select major altcoins may break above their near-term resistance, signaling buying at lower levels. Bitcoin (BTC) is facing resistance at $69,000, but the bulls continue to

Cointelegraph48m ago

Ethereum Derivatives Flooded With $1B in Sells as Markets React to Trump

Several crypto assets declined on Friday after Donald Trump’s speech triggered panic across global markets. Defying expectations for restraint, Trump outlined plans for potential military action against Iran over

CryptoPotato3h ago

Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Details His 'Private' and 'Secure' AI Setup

In brief Vitalik Buterin runs AI entirely on local hardware using the open-source Qwen3.5:35B model, avoiding cloud-based tools he considers a privacy risk. He built a messaging daemon that blocks his AI agent from contacting third-parties without manual human approval, and advises

Decrypt4h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments