Public companies acquired roughly 7.4 million Ethereum (ETH) over the past 12 months, locking up 6.1% of the token's circulating supply as corporate treasury demand accelerates despite bearish conditions.
ETH Corporate Treasury Accumulation
Leon Waidmann, a market researcher and head of research at Lisk, shared the figures in a post on the X platform. The purchases have continued each month, even as ETH traded below the $2,000 level for a stretch earlier this year.
As of May 2025, cumulative ETH treasury holdings among institutional and corporate buyers stood near zero.
By Apr. 2026, that number had surged past 6.5 million ETH. The tokens are going into treasury reserves rather than onto exchanges, meaning they cannot be sold without board approval, shareholder disclosure and regulatory filings.
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Waidmann on Staking Records
Staking activity has risen in parallel. More than 32% of ETH's entire supply is now locked in staking contracts, a new all-time high.
In May 2021, 18 million ETH — roughly 16% of total supply — sat in staking contracts.
By Mar. 2026, that figure had climbed to 40 million ETH. Waidmann noted that this 32% share is not sitting on exchanges or in wallets waiting to be sold. It is actively securing the network.
ETH Price Trajectory
Ethereum has struggled with prolonged sideways movement in recent months, repeatedly testing support near $2,000 amid wider market volatility. The token has managed to reclaim that level, though gains have been modest. The persistent institutional buying and record staking levels stand in sharp contrast to the choppy price action, suggesting corporate treasuries view current valuations as an entry point rather than a warning sign.
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