How the crypto treasury craze is creating ‘true scarcity,’ says BitMine chairman Tom Lee

Key Points

  • Ethereum Scarcity and Accumulation: Tom Lee highlights the scarcity of Ethereum and the rapid pace at which companies like BitMine Immersion Technologies are accumulating it, with BitMine holding over $2 billion in Ether in just two weeks.**
  • Crypto Treasury Trend: Inspired by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which holds over 3% of Bitcoin’s supply, companies are now diversifying into riskier cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, with BitMine aiming to acquire up to 5% of Ether’s total supply.**
  • Stablecoins and Ethereum’s Role: Lee views Ethereum as the backbone of the $272 billion stablecoin market, calling it the biggest macro trade of the decade, especially with new legislation like the Genius Act enabling banks to issue stablecoins.**
  • BitMine’s Strategy: BitMine is adopting an “ETH per share” model, similar to Strategy’s Bitcoin approach, and plans to generate income by staking Ether, targeting $100 million in annual net income.**
  • Market Risks and Criticism: Concerns exist about systemic risks posed by crypto treasury companies, with critics like Jim Chanos and Coinbase analysts warning of financial instability and “alarming” trends.**

Summary

Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies, emphasizes the growing trend of companies aggressively accumulating Ethereum as part of their crypto treasury strategies, inspired by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which holds over 3% of Bitcoin’s supply. BitMine has rapidly amassed over $2 billion in Ether, aiming for 5% of the total supply, and is introducing an “ETH per share” model while planning to generate income through staking. Lee sees Ethereum as the decade’s biggest macro trade, driven by its role in the $272 billion stablecoin market, bolstered by new US legislation like the Genius Act. However, the trend raises concerns, with critics like Jim Chanos and Coinbase analysts warning of systemic risks and financial instability in the crypto market. Lee compares crypto treasury companies to traditional giants like ExxonMobil, arguing they are valued for controlled resources—here, digital assets—transforming capital markets. Despite the optimism, risks and skepticism persist around this aggressive accumulation strategy.

yahoo
August 2, 2025
Crypto
Read article

Related news