Bitmine Weekly ETH Purchase Hits New Low: From Accumulation to Lock-in, Institutional Sentiment Is Changing

Tom Lee’s Bitmine purchased 24,266 ETH last week, worth $75.59 million, marking the lowest weekly purchase volume on record. Behind this seemingly ordinary data lies an interesting strategic shift: when purchase speed slows down, Bitmine is instead engaging in large-scale staking of ETH. What does this reflect?

Strategic Adjustment Behind the Slowing Purchases

From Accumulation to Locking

According to the latest news, Bitmine currently holds 4,167,768 ETH, with a total value of approximately $12.98 billion. But more noteworthy is what they have been doing recently—according to relevant information, Bitmine has locked 1.08 million ETH in staking, valued at about $3.3 billion.

This contrast is quite interesting: purchase volume hits a new low, but staking scale is expanding. Over just a few days last week, Bitmine repeatedly increased staked ETH, with single increases ranging from 86,400 to 109,504 ETH, totaling over 1.08 million ETH staked.

Data Comparison

What Does This Shift Indicate

Possible Reasons for the Change

The decline in purchase volume coupled with an increase in staking scale may reflect several signals:

• Market Price Consideration: ETH is currently around $3,105, up from earlier this year. Buying more cautiously while locking in profits could be a more prudent strategy.
• Yield Optimization: Staking ETH yields a stable 3-5%, which is attractive in uncertain market conditions.
• Portfolio Optimization: After holding over 4.16 million ETH, the marginal benefit of continued rapid purchasing diminishes. Shifting toward staking might be a more rational choice.
• Market Signal: Large institutions moving from “continuous buying” to “locking in profits” could indicate their mid-term market outlook—optimistic but cautious.

Connection to Tom Lee’s Remarks

According to relevant information, Tom Lee is quite optimistic about ETH’s long-term prospects—he believes ETH has the potential for a baseline scenario of $22,000 and a bull market scenario of $154,000 by 2030. Under such long-term bullish expectations, Bitmine’s strategic shift makes more sense: since they are confident in the long-term outlook, it’s logical to lock in existing holdings and earn yields, especially when short-term prices are uncertain, slowing down purchase activity.

Interpretation of Market Signals

Bitmine’s strategic shift may indicate subtle changes in institutional investor sentiment. Moving from “aggressive accumulation” to “steady locking in” is not a bearish signal but a transition from rapid expansion to more refined management.

In the current environment of liquidity pressure in the crypto market (according to relevant information, market liquidity has fallen to its lowest level since 2021), such cautious strategies by large institutions may be more prudent—they maintain confidence in long-term prospects while generating stable cash flow through staking and reducing short-term volatility risks.

Summary

Bitmine’s weekly purchase volume hit a new low, but this is not a sign of bearishness; rather, it reflects a strategic upgrade from “rapid accumulation” to “precise management.” With over 4.16 million ETH already held, shifting toward staking for stable yields and slowing purchase pace demonstrates a more mature market attitude among institutional investors—confidence in long-term prospects but increased caution regarding short-term timing. For market participants, this shift is noteworthy as it may signal that large institutions are moving from an “expansion phase” into a “profit optimization phase.”