According to Cointelegraph, BitMine Immersion Technologies, recognized as the largest corporate holder of Ether, has expanded its Ethereum holdings by purchasing an additional $65 million worth of ETH. This acquisition marks the company's first purchase of the asset this month. The transactions were executed through Galaxy Digital’s over-the-counter desk, as reported by blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence. This strategic move by BitMine occurs at a time when Ether reserves on centralized exchanges have reached a three-year low, with a 38% reduction in supply since 2022. This decline is attributed to corporate treasury acquisitions and the influence of exchange-traded funds absorbing the available supply. A representative from BitMine confirmed to Cointelegraph that the company did not employ leverage for this purchase, emphasizing that all ETH acquisitions were made with cash. BitMine now holds over 1.5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.
In the stock market, BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) experienced a notable increase, with shares closing Wednesday’s trading session at $44.86, reflecting a 5.58% rise, according to Google Finance. However, the stock experienced a slight decline of 0.54% in after-hours trading, settling at $44.62. Despite a year-to-date increase of 540%, BMNR has seen a significant drop of nearly 67% from its peak of $135 on July 3. A social media post highlighted BMNR as one of the most actively traded stocks, with a ten-day average volume of 51.07 million shares and a 30-day average volume of approximately 54.96 million shares. Additionally, there are speculations about Tom Lee's potential appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which could further spotlight BitMine and Ethereum.
Tom Lee, during his appearance on the Medici Presents: Level Up podcast, reiterated his long-term price target for Ethereum at $60,000. He likened Wall Street's growing interest in Ethereum to a pivotal moment, suggesting it could significantly elevate the asset's value. Lee emphasized that Ethereum's integration into financial systems presents substantial opportunities for blockchain adoption, positioning Ethereum as a primary beneficiary. He also noted that publicly-traded companies with Ethereum treasuries could trade at a premium due to their ability to stake ETH, unlike Ethereum ETFs, which face liquidity constraints. Lee highlighted that Ethereum's staking rewards, generating a 3% return, should enhance the value of companies holding Ether, suggesting a valuation multiplier of 1.9. Currently, BitMine’s mNav trades at a multiplier of 1.13, as per Strategic ETH Reserve. Lee pointed out that Ethereum ETFs cannot fully capitalize on staking due to liquidity requirements, limiting their potential valuation.
