BitMine Locks $1B ETH in 48 Hours: Is a Supply Squeeze Imminent?

BitMine Immersion Technologies has moved more than $1 billion worth of Ether into staking contracts in less than 48 hours, a move that is drawing fresh attention to how corporate staking activity is tightening Ethereum’s available supply.

Blockchain data tracked by Lookonchain shows the company staked 342,560 ETH in the two days leading up to Sunday, making it one of the largest short-term staking inflows recorded this year.

Ethereum’s Staking Queue Swells as Locked ETH Outpaces Exits

Staking involves locking Ether into Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system to help secure the network in return for a yield that typically ranges between 3% and 5% annually, depending on network conditions.

Once staked, the ETH cannot be sold immediately and must pass through a validator exit queue before it becomes liquid again. BitMine’s latest move was reflected almost immediately in Ethereum’s validator queues.

Validator data shows that the entry queue has stretched to 12 days and 20 hours, with about 739,824 ETH waiting to be staked.

Source: validatorqueue.com

By contrast, the exit queue stood at six days and two hours, representing roughly 349,867 ETH scheduled for withdrawal.

It marked the first time in months that the number of validators lining up to stake Ether was nearly double those preparing to exit, a pattern often associated with longer-term positioning rather than short-term liquidity needs.

Locked ETH Is Quietly Changing Market Dynamics

This imbalance matters because it points to a potential supply squeeze. A supply squeeze occurs when demand for an asset grows while the amount available for trading shrinks.

In Ethereum’s case, staking removes ETH from the liquid market by locking it into smart contracts.

With fewer coins available on exchanges, even modest demand can have an outsized impact on price movements, especially during periods of thinner liquidity.

Ethereum already operates in a tighter supply environment than in previous cycles. Roughly 35.8 million ETH, about 28.88% of the total supply, is currently staked, according to late December estimates.

Source: Dune data

New issuance has also slowed since the network’s transition to proof of stake, and the EIP-1559 fee mechanism continues to burn a portion of transaction fees, occasionally pushing net issuance into negative territory during high activity periods.

Together, these factors mean staking does not just delay selling but can structurally reduce the amount of Ether circulating in the market.

As ETH Trades Below $3K, BitMine Keeps Buying

BitMine’s aggressive accumulation adds another layer to that dynamic. The NYSE American-listed company has positioned Ethereum as its primary treasury asset.

Data from StrategicEthReserve.xyz shows BitMine now controls about 4.07 million ETH, worth roughly $12.15 billion, representing around 3.36% of the total supply.

The company has publicly stated a long-term target of reaching a 5% stake.

Source: StrategicEthReserve.xyz

Recent on-chain data supports that strategy, as in December alone, trackers flagged multiple large inflows, including roughly 29,462 ETH moved from BitGo and Kraken wallets, valued at about $88 million at the time.

Earlier disclosures showed BitMine bought more than $229 million worth of ETH in a single week and over 407,000 ETH in the past 30 days, even as Ether traded nearly 40% below its cycle peak.

Notably, other major corporate holders are also staking most of their Ether. SharpLink Gaming, the second-largest corporate holder, has said it staked nearly all of its ETH and generated 9,701 ETH in rewards, worth about $29 million.

Source: Sharplink.com

The Ether Machine, the third-largest holder, has fully staked its $1.49 billion treasury and reported consistent placement among the top tier of validators by reward efficiency.

These moves come as Ether continues to trade below $3,000, hovering near $2,978 this week after a modest monthly rebound.