Ethereum has fallen below $3,000, continuing its unstable price trend amid a cautious broader crypto market. While the spot price struggles to overcome resistance, on-chain data reveals a significant split between current market sentiment and long-term investment strategies.
Data from Arkham shows that Bitmine has staked an additional 250,912 ETH—worth about $745 million—in the last 18 hours, adding to its already large locked position. This move highlights how major, well-funded players are behaving during this period of price decline. Staking on such a scale indicates that some investors are focusing on generating yield and maintaining long-term exposure rather than reacting to short-term price changes. Instead of selling during market rallies, these entities are choosing to lock up their supply, reducing the amount of liquid ETH available and accepting less flexibility in return.
The contrast is striking. Ethereum’s price is below a key psychological level, yet significant capital continues to flow into staking contracts. This underscores the growing structural importance of Ethereum’s proof-of-stake model, where investment choices are increasingly influenced by network participation and steady returns, not just potential price gains.
As Ethereum trades below $3,000, the critical question is whether strong staking demand can counter weak spot market momentum, or if prices need to stabilize further before broader market confidence returns.
### Large-Scale Staking Reduces Liquid Supply
According to Arkham, Bitmine has now staked a total of 2,582,963 ETH, valued at approximately $7.67 billion. This represents about 61% of its total Ethereum holdings, showing how aggressively large holders are committing to long-term network participation instead of keeping their assets liquid.
This is particularly notable given current market conditions. Ethereum is below $3,000, volatility is high, and leverage metrics point to fragile positioning among short-term traders. Despite this, Bitmine’s decision to stake most of its ETH shows a clear preference for yield generation and balance-sheet efficiency over active trading.
Staking removes ETH from active circulation, tightening the available supply and limiting potential selling pressure from these large holders. At the same time, Ethereum balances on exchanges have continued to decline, further constraining the liquid supply. While lower exchange balances don’t guarantee a price increase, they do mean fewer coins are readily available to meet sudden selling pressure. In this environment, price movements become more sensitive to small changes in supply and demand, especially during periods of stress or renewed buying interest.
The combination of large-scale staking and shrinking exchange reserves paints a picture of long-term holders locking in their positions, even as short-term sentiment remains cautious. Whether this structural reduction in supply leads to price support will depend on broader risk conditions and the return of sustained demand in the spot market.
### ETH Trades Below Key Moving Averages
Ethereum’s price action shows a market torn between fading momentum and an attempt to stabilize after a prolonged downturn. On the daily chart, ETH is trading around the $2,900–$3,000 zone, which has served as both psychological support and a pivot point in recent weeks. Its failure to hold higher levels earlier this quarter established a pattern of lower highs, keeping the overall trend bearish.
From a technical perspective, ETH remains below its key moving averages. The 50-day average has turned downward and sits above the current price, reinforcing short-term bearish pressure, while the 100-day average continues to slope lower.Ethereum is facing dynamic resistance around $3,200–$3,300. While the 200-day moving average is still rising, its slope is flattening and remains positioned above the price, indicating that long-term trend support has not yet been regained. Until ETH can achieve a decisive close above both the 50- and 100-day moving averages, any upward moves are more likely to be corrective rather than impulsive.
Volume patterns provide further context for this consolidation. Selling pressure during the recent pullback was noticeable but not extreme, pointing to distribution rather than panic. Since then, trading volume has declined, which aligns with a market entering a compression phase and reflects indecision rather than aggressive accumulation.
Overall, ETH is consolidating below major resistance while holding a fragile support band near $2,800–$2,900. A sustained break below this zone would increase downside risk. For any meaningful recovery to take hold, Ethereum must reclaim its key moving averages to shift the market structure toward stabilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Bitmines Additional Ethereum Staking
Q1 What does it mean that Bitmine staked Ethereum
A1 Staking is like locking up cryptocurrency to help secure and operate a blockchain network In return participants earn rewards similar to earning interest Bitmine has committed a large amount of its Ethereum to this process
Q2 How much Ethereum did Bitmine just stake and whats it worth
A2 Bitmine staked an additional 250912 ETH At current market prices this is valued at approximately 745 million
Q3 What percentage of Bitmines total Ethereum is now staked
A3 With this new move 61 of Bitmines total Ethereum holdings are now staked
Q4 Why would a company like Bitmine stake so much Ethereum
A4 Primarily for two reasons 1 To earn passive rewards on their holdings generating income 2 To show longterm confidence in the Ethereum network as staked ETH is locked up for an extended period
Q5 Is staking Ethereum safe What are the risks for Bitmine
A5 While generally considered secure staking has risks The main ones are slashing risks and liquidity riskstaked ETH is locked and cannot be freely sold until specific network upgrades allow withdrawals which could be a problem if prices drop suddenly
Q6 What does this large stake tell us about Bitmines strategy
A6 It signals a longterm incomefocused strategy They are choosing to earn yields on their assets rather than keeping them all liquid for trading indicating bullishness on Ethereums future
Q7 How does this affect the overall Ethereum network
A7 Large institutional stakes like this increase the networks security and decentralization by adding more validators It also shows major financial players are committed to Ethereums proofofstake model
Q8 Can individual investors stake Ethereum like Bitmine does
A8 Yes absolutely Individuals can stake any amount of ETH through their cryptocurrency exchange a staking pool or by running their own validator node