Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, has projected that Ethereum could reach between $7,000 and $9,000 by early 2026. This optimistic forecast is attributed to increasing structural demand and growing institutional adoption of the cryptocurrency. In a significant move, BitMine has staked $2 billion in Ethereum over a two-day period, including a single transaction of 342,560 ETH. The company now holds over 4 million ETH, representing 3.4% of the total circulating supply. BitMine is also developing its Made in America Validator Network to support institutional staking efforts.