Institutional interest in Ethereum is accelerating. According to a new report by Standard Chartered, corporate treasuries now hold 1% of all ETH in circulation—and that figure could rise tenfold over time.
“Ether treasury holdings may eventually account for 10% of the total ETH supply,” said Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered.
What’s Driving the ETH Treasury Trend?
Since early June, corporate entities have begun actively accumulating ETH, motivated by two key catalysts:
- Staking yields: By locking up ETH through Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system, corporations can earn consistent returns with relatively low risk.
- DeFi access: Firms can tap Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure to generate passive yield or access liquidity, without relying on centralized banks.
Ether is increasingly seen as both a yield-bearing asset and a strategic treasury reserve, similar to how Bitcoin was treated by early adopters like MicroStrategy.
Who’s Leading the Charge?
Two companies leading this ETH treasury movement include:
- BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) – a listed firm that has become one of the largest public holders of ETH, using a staking-first strategy.
- SharpLink Gaming (SBET) – which recently converted a significant portion of its treasury into ETH and is also leveraging restaking protocols to earn enhanced yield.
These corporate moves appear to be impacting market dynamics. The ETH/BTC price ratio has jumped from 0.018 in April to 0.032 in July, a sign that ETH is outperforming Bitcoin in 2025, likely driven by real-world institutional buying.
ETH’s year-end price target remains at $4,000, according to Standard Chartered analysts, despite recent volatility.
The Bigger Picture
With the DeFi market now above $150 billion in total value locked (TVL) and Ethereum controlling nearly 60% of that, more corporations may soon follow suit. Analysts believe that ETH, with its dual role as infrastructure and yield-bearing asset, could become a cornerstone of modern corporate treasuries—especially as ETH staking becomes more accessible via ETFs and custodians.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.