The Ethereum Foundation has nearly completed its much-anticipated plan to stake 70,000 ETH, following a major deposit of roughly $93 million worth of Ethereum on Thursday. In a series of recent transactions, the Foundation transferred a total of 45,034 ETH from its treasury wallet directly to the Beacon Chain deposit contract, organizing the transfers in blocks of 2,047 ETH each.
Details of the staking process and the Foundation’s portfolio
The new wave of staking occurred as Ethereum traded at around $2,059 per token, bringing the Foundation’s total staked position to approximately 69,500 ETH—just short of the previously announced 70,000 ETH goal. Since publicly declaring this objective in February, the Foundation has followed a steady, phased approach to staking, incrementally building up its position over several months.
The staking journey began with an initial deposit of 2,016 ETH earlier this year. The process gathered pace this week, with an additional 20,470 ETH staked ahead of Thursday’s substantial transfer. Now, only a small fraction remains to reach the pledged milestone, underscoring the Foundation’s systematic commitment to its strategy.
According to on-chain analytics from Arkham, the Ethereum Foundation now maintains around $270.9 million in total assets spread across 14 different wallets. The majority of these holdings are made up of ETH, with approximately 102,400 tokens in reserve. The portfolio also features moderate allocations of USDC, BNB, and some bitcoin, reflecting a cautious diversification approach.
Staking returns and a shift in strategy
Staking, the process of locking up cryptocurrency to help secure a blockchain and earn rewards, serves a dual purpose for institutional holders. By participating in staking, organizations like the Ethereum Foundation can generate returns similar to interest income from traditional bonds, providing a regular stream of revenue in an otherwise volatile sector.
Based on current staking rates, the Foundation’s existing stake could yield between $3.9 million and $5.4 million per year. While this income is relatively modest compared to the Foundation’s typical annual operating expenses—estimated at about $100 million—it does help alleviate pressure to convert ETH holdings into cash. The ability to earn steady returns means the Foundation can support its grants, research, and day-to-day operations while minimizing forced ETH sales.
Previously, the Foundation relied primarily on selling portions of its ETH reserves to fund research, grants, and operational costs. Recent volatility in ETH’s price and corresponding public scrutiny have prompted a recalibration of this approach, with the Foundation now emphasizing strategies that offer greater financial sustainability.
“By staking its treasury ETH, the Ethereum Foundation both earns rewards and reduces its need to sell assets to fund operations, thereby creating a more stable, long-term funding source,” Foundation representatives said.
Despite the move, staking does not entirely eliminate the need to sell ETH. The Foundation notes that it retains the flexibility to convert staked ETH into cash if necessary, meaning sales may continue under certain circumstances.
Reaching the 70,000 ETH staking target does not mark the end of the program. With more than 100,000 ETH still in its portfolio, the Foundation has not ruled out expanding its staking activities in the future, though it has yet to share any concrete plans regarding additional phases of the strategy.
It is also worth noting that the recent staking activity took place when ETH traded at $2,059—down roughly 4.3% compared to the previous week—underscoring the Foundation’s long-term outlook amid short-term market fluctuations.
