Ethereum foundation stakes $93 million in ETH, nears 70,000 ETH target

The Ethereum Foundation added $93 million in ether to its staking program on Thursday, according to Arkham data. The deposits lifted its total staked position to about $143 million and brought it close to its 70,000 ETH goal.

Deposits executed in multiple batches

Arkham data shows the foundation deposited 45,034 ETH in uniform batches of 2,047 ETH per transaction. Each batch was valued at an estimated $4.23 million at the time of transfer. The transfers moved from the treasury multisig to the Eth2 Beacon Chain deposit contract.

During the transactions, ether traded near $2,059. The total staked amount reached about 69,500 ETH, placing the foundation within reach of the 70,000 ETH commitment announced in February.

Earlier deposits included 2,016 ETH in February and about 20,470 ETH earlier this week. The latest sequence completed the remaining allocation toward the public target.

How staking works and the foundation’s rationale

Staking allows holders to lock tokens to support network validation and earn rewards. The foundation described staking as a way to fund research and grants without selling assets, saying it converts dormant holdings into productive capital.

Treasury holdings and projected staking returns

Arkham data indicates the foundation controls about $270.9 million in assets across 14 addresses. Ether is the largest component, with roughly 102,400 ETH valued at $210.9 million. The portfolio also includes USDC, BNB, and a small fraction of bitcoin.

At current staking rates, the $143 million staked position could generate between $3.9 million and $5.4 million per year. The estimate corresponds to an annual percentage yield range of 2.7% to 3.8% for institutional stakers. Returns could increase if validators use MEV-boost mechanisms.

The foundation has previously reported annual operating costs near $100 million. At current yield levels, staking income would cover only a portion of those expenses, though the program is designed to earn rewards without reducing its ETH balance.

Scope of the target and market context

Reaching the 70,000 ETH target does not exhaust the foundation’s holdings. Arkham data shows it still holds more than 100,000 ETH that remains unstaked, and it has not announced plans to expand staking beyond the initial allocation.

Ether traded at $2,059 during the deposits and fell about 4.3% over the past week. Arkham data recorded the transfers on Thursday across treasury-linked addresses. The foundation had not issued further statements following the latest transactions.