TL;DR:

The company acquired an additional 45,759 ETH, reaching a total of 4.3 million tokens in its treasury.
BitMine already stakes 69% of its assets, generating $176 million in annual rewards.
Tom Lee compares current investor sentiment to the lowest points of past crypto winters.

The financial sector was caught by surprise following the announcement that BitMine buys Ethereum at market lows aggressively. In the past week alone, the company reportedly purchased over 45,000 ETH units, valued at $90 million.

This acquisition increases the firm’s holdings to more than 4.3 million tokens, equivalent to 3.62% of the network’s total supply. Despite unrealized losses, BitMine remains firm in its conviction regarding the asset’s long-term potential.

At this time, they are not limited solely to accumulation; their strategy is diversified and also focuses on yield generation through staking. Notably, the company secures a steady income stream to sustain its operations despite having over 3 million ETH locked.

Tom Lee envisions a market bottom similar to previous crises

Tom Lee, the firm’s chairman, highlighted that the current investor discouragement is comparable to that experienced in 2018 and 2022. However, he clarified that the current situation is different, as there have been no massive collapses of major institutions.

According to Lee, the current price does not reflect the network’s high utility or its fundamental role in the future of global finance. Therefore, the company is taking advantage of what it calls a “mini-winter” to strengthen its dominant position ahead of an eventual recovery.

In addition to Ethereum, the company diversifies its assets with positions in Bitcoin and stakes in AI firms. This financial structure seeks to capitalize on the convergence between blockchain technology and digital identity infrastructure.

In summary, BitMine’s aggressive asset purchase underscores an institutional bet on Ethereum’s infrastructure. While the retail market wavers, corporate whales are taking advantage of discount prices to consolidate their hegemony.

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Filed under: News - @ February 17, 2026 7:27 pm