BitMine now holds 300,000 ETH and aims to acquire 5% of Ethereum’s total supply, positioning itself as a major force in the future of decentralized finance.
In a bold move that underscores growing institutional confidence in Ethereum, ARK Invest has acquired $182 million worth of equity in BitMine across several of its investment funds. The purchase, announced on July 22, involved 4.77 million shares bought via a block trade tied to BitMine’s ongoing at-the-market program.
According to BitMine, nearly all the $177 million in net proceeds will be used to purchase Ethereum (ETH), reinforcing the company’s aggressive accumulation strategy.
This investment significantly expands ARK Invest’s exposure to crypto-native companies. Known for her forward-thinking bets on disruptive technologies, CEO Cathie Wood has previously backed Bitcoin, AI, and blockchain infrastructure.
BitMine’s chairman, Tom Lee of Fundstrat, heralded the investment as a strong vote of confidence in BitMine’s ETH-centric vision. Lee drew parallels to ARK’s early investments in Tesla and Circle, calling this a long-term “exponential opportunity” in Ethereum.
BitMine’s pivot toward Ethereum has been swift and strategic. In late June, the company raised $250 million through a private placement led by MOZAYYX and backed by prominent firms such as Pantera Capital, Founders Fund, Kraken, Galaxy Digital, and FalconX. That capital was fully deployed for Ethereum purchases and staking, cementing the company’s new treasury strategy.
As of July 23, BitMine now holds roughly 300,000 ETH, making it the second-largest corporate holder of Ethereum globally, according to data from Strategic ETH Reserve. For context, 58 public companies collectively hold about 1.87 million ETH, valued at approximately $6.9 billion. BitMine and SharpLink Gaming have even surpassed the Ethereum Foundation in ETH holdings, signaling a new era in corporate treasury strategies centered on Ethereum rather than Bitcoin.
BitMine’s ambition doesn’t stop here. The firm has laid out a bold goal: to accumulate and stake 5% of Ethereum’s total supply, about 6 million ETH. While BitMine still earns revenue from its mining operations in energy-rich regions like Trinidad and Texas, Ethereum is now the cornerstone of its long-term vision.
The firm sees Ethereum not just as a digital asset but as critical infrastructure for the future of finance. From powering smart contracts and stablecoins to being the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, Ethereum’s utility is central to BitMine’s thesis. The company cites a forecast by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who predicted that the stablecoin market could reach $2 trillion by 2028, as a major driver for ETH demand.
With ARK’s backing and institutional momentum growing, BitMine’s Ethereum strategy could mark the beginning of a broader shift in how companies view and hold digital assets.
