Ethereum Price Prediction: Tom Lee Eyes $9K As Bitmine Pushes Staked Ether Past $1B

Key Insights:

• The chairman of BitMine shared an Ethereum price prediction projecting a price of $7,000 – $9,000 by early 2026.
• He said major financial institutions are looking at blockchain settlement systems and the network could benefit.
• At the same time, BitMine boosted its staked ETH to $2 billion as per data by Lookonchain, which spotlighted the latest transaction of 342,560 ETH.

Tom Lee shared a bold Ethereum price prediction for 2026, which eyes the $7,000 to $9,000 levels by early 2026. Meanwhile, BitMine steadily increased its staked ETH holdings to $2 billion in just two days.

Tom Lee Eyes $9,000 in 2026 Ethereum Price Prediction

A recent Ethereum price prediction by BitMine chairman Tom Lee targets a range of $7,000 – $9,000 by early 2026.

He attributed the potential growth to long-term structural demand, rather than short-term price swings. He added that recent volatility does not change Ethereum’s role in financial infrastructure. Lee said the outlook focuses on tokenization, faster settlements, and more institutional adoption worldwide.

In an interview with CNBC, he mentioned that the crypto market came under pressure after the October 2025 liquidation. He compared it to past events that briefly reduced liquidity.

These events, he said, usually take weeks for markets to stabilize. Lee emphasized that the current phase represents a recovery, not a fundamental breakdown.

Lee said Ethereum’s widespread usage makes it easy to support its value. He said demand from real-world use is more stable than short-term rallies. This suggests Ethereum could be much higher in a year, thanks to ongoing adoption.

The BitMine founder said traditional finance is increasingly focusing on the tokenization of assets. He explained that this shift is driven by efficiency gains rather than speculation.

He said major financial institutions are looking at blockchain settlement systems. Ethereum could benefit from its strong network and active ecosystem.

BitMine Increases ETH Staking Holdings to $2 Billion

Besides the Ethereum price prediction, BitMine Immersion has significantly increased its staked Ethereum holdings, according to the latest Ethereum news data from Lookonchain. The Ether Treasury company staked 342,560 ETH, equivalent to roughly $1 billion, over just two days. This ranks among the largest corporate staking moves in recent memory.

The company also disclosed in its filings that it holds more than 4 million ETH, approximately 3.4% of Ethereum’s circulating supply. On-chain data shows that the balance continued to climb as BitMine added to its holdings throughout the week.

Usually, validators lock up ETH to secure the network and confirm transactions. They earn rewards in return. BitMine’s recent actions suggest it is changing its strategy.

Instead of keeping its ETH idle, the company is putting a large portion of its treasury to work, actively participating in the Ethereum network and its growth.

The staking is linked to BitMine’s Made in America Validator Network, or MAVAN. The firm has reviewed several institutional staking providers, focusing on security, operational stability, and reward performance. A pilot program is already running with three partners, tracking real-time results.

BitMine plans to assess the pilot outcomes before committing more ETH. The full MAVAN launch is expected in early 2026. The platform is designed for native Ethereum staking and long-term value creation, rather than short-term trading gains.