Ethereum Foundation stakes over 22,500 ETH in largest single deployment

The Ethereum Foundation, the non-profit that funds protocol development and ecosystem growth on the Ethereum blockchain, staked 22,517 ETH worth about $46 million on Monday, their biggest single staking deployment to date, according to Arkham Intel data.

The move is part of the Foundation’s plan to stake about 70,000 ETH in total, starting with 2,016 ETH in late February. Staking rewards will be used to fund research, ecosystem development, and community grants.

The Foundation holds digital assets worth over $360 million, with ETH making up the majority. Its portfolio also includes BNB, Bitcoin, Arbitrum, and stablecoins.

The decision to lock a large portion of its treasury into staking contracts shows a clear shift from its historical reliance on periodic ETH sales. Previously, these sales often created downward pressure on token prices and led to recurring criticism from the Ethereum community.

Institutional capital floods Ethereum staking

The Foundation’s move comes amid rising institutional interest in staking, with liquid staking protocols holding over $58 billion in deposits as of early 2026.

BlackRock has entered the space with its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB), signaling growing integration with traditional finance, while SharpLink Gaming holds around 867,798 ETH, with nearly all of it staked for recurring rewards.