BitMine adds $126 M of Ethereum, eyes Russell 1000 index inclusion

Crypto investment firm BitMine purchased an additional 60,000 ETH, valued at about $126 million, bringing its total Ethereum holdings to more than 5.2 million ETH (roughly $11.1 billion). The acquisition, executed through Kraken and BitGo, underscores growing institutional interest in ETH as a strategic asset, with the firm’s MAVAN staking platform already staking over $10 billion of its ETH to earn network rewards.

BitMine has been added to the preliminary list for the 2026 Russell 3000 Index and could qualify for the Russell 1000, the large‑cap segment that many passive funds track. Chairman Thomas Lee said the recent dip in ETH price below $2,200 presented an attractive entry point and cited potential regulatory support from the CLARITY Act. Inclusion in the Russell index could shift ownership of BitMine’s stock as index‑based funds adjust their portfolios, linking the crypto‑treasury model more closely to traditional equity markets.