Ethereum Machine Now Leads Ethereum Foundation in ETH Assets After $56.9 Million Acquisition
In the world of cryptocurrencies, a notable shift is underway as corporations are acquiring Ethereum (ETH) at double the rate of Bitcoin (BTC). This trend, revealed by Standard Chartered, indicates a changing corporate strategy in crypto asset holdings.
As of mid-2025, corporations have amassed about 1% of the total ETH supply. In July alone, corporate ETH treasuries grew by approximately 876,000 ETH, surpassing the pace of Bitcoin accumulation by institutions. This rapid growth has propelled ETH corporate holdings to represent roughly 0.9% to 1.1% of the total supply, while Bitcoin corporate reserves account for about 3.98% of the circulating BTC supply.
The increased interest in Ethereum can be attributed to its ability to generate operational yield through staking, offering around 3% annual returns, a feature not available with Bitcoin holdings. This yield potential, combined with deep integration in decentralized finance (DeFi) and staking rewards, makes Ethereum a more attractive multi-functional financial asset for corporate treasuries compared to Bitcoin.
Key players in the corporate Ethereum market include BitMine Immersion Technologies, holding over 625,000 ETH, and SharpLink Gaming, among others. Analysts predict that Ethereum holdings on corporate balance sheets could grow to 10% of the total supply if institutional adoption continues.
In contrast, while corporate Bitcoin holdings remain substantial, they have grown more slowly in recent months relative to Ethereum. Corporate Bitcoin reserves total over 791,000 BTC, worth approximately $93 billion, compared to 1.3 million ETH (~1.1% supply) valued at over $4 billion for Ethereum corporate treasuries.
The Ether Machine, a corporate entity formed through a merger between The Ether Reserve and Nasdaq-listed Dynamix Corp, recently acquired 15,000 ETH, bringing its total holdings to 334,757 ETH. The firm, planning to go public under the ticker ETHM in the fourth quarter with a capital raise target of $1.6 billion, has $407 million in reserve for further Ether acquisitions.
The growing corporate interest in Ethereum is not limited to acquisitions. Companies are also increasing activity in Ethereum-related markets, including tokenized asset deployment and institutional-grade custody. Analysts tracking on-chain activity report increased corporate interest in staking and decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities.
Notably, SharpLink Gaming, a leading corporate Ethereum investor, recently acquired 11,259 ETH for $43.09 million in USDC, bringing its ETH holdings to 449,276 tokens, valued at about $1.73 billion.
In the realm of Ethereum's development, the Ethereum Foundation holds 234,000 ETH, and The Protocol Guild, an organisation that distributes millions to over 150 developers working on Ethereum's infrastructure, has received a $100,000 donation from Andrew Keys, chairman and co-founder of The Ether Machine.
Ethereum remains more than 20% below its peak price of $4,890. Despite this, large-scale acquisitions have added to ETH's market momentum, pushing prices closer to Standard Chartered's $4,000 year-end projection. As the corporate Ethereum trend continues, it will be interesting to see how this affects the overall cryptocurrency market and the future of financial automation.
- The rapid expansion of corporate Ethereum holdings, driven by attractive operational yields, deep integration in DeFi, and staking rewards, contrasts with the more gradual growth of corporate Bitcoin reserves.
- Analysts project that Ethereum holdings on corporate balance sheets could increase significantly, reaching up to 10% of the total supply, as institutional adoption continues, potentially impacting the overall cryptocurrency market and the future of financial automation.
