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Small Public Firms Turn to Ether in New Crypto Rush Despite Risks

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A growing number of smaller publicly traded companies are adding ether to their balance sheets, positioning it as both an inflation hedge and a growth asset. Corporate treasuries collectively held around 966,304 ether — worth nearly $3.5 billion — by the end of July, compared with just under 116,000 tokens at the close of 2024, according to a Reuters analysis.

Ether’s appeal lies in its dual role: it serves as a high-potential investment and as a functional asset powering the Ethereum blockchain. Unlike bitcoin, whose value depends solely on price appreciation, ether can also be staked to earn yields of about 3–4% while supporting the network. Proponents, such as Bit Digital CEO Sam Tabar, view ether as “institutional-grade” yet early enough in adoption to offer substantial upside. Others liken its role in decentralized finance to oil in the energy sector — essential infrastructure rather than just a store of value.

Investor enthusiasm has fueled sharp share price surges for companies announcing ether purchases. Peter Thiel-backed BitMine and GameSquare saw stock gains of 3,679% and 123%, respectively, after disclosing accumulation plans. However, analysts caution against overexcitement, warning that such rallies resemble the “meme stock” phenomenon.

Challenges persist, including crypto’s inherent volatility, regulatory uncertainty — especially regarding staking activities — and accounting complexities for locked tokens. Many corporate finance leaders remain wary, prioritizing liquidity and predictability over speculative gains. Staking rewards could also fall into compliance gray areas, raising questions over taxation and custodial obligations.

Despite these hurdles, some firms remain aggressive. BitMine sold a $182 million stake to ARK Invest in July, while GameSquare has hinted at further stock sales to finance ether buys. As CEO Justin Kenna put it, the approach is “opportunistic” rather than overly dilutive.

Bitcoin surges to record near $112,000 amid rising institutional interest

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Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high late Wednesday, nearly touching $112,000, driven by growing risk appetite and sustained demand from institutional investors embracing the world’s largest cryptocurrency. The digital asset reached an intraday peak of $111,988.90 and was last trading around $111,259, marking an 18% gain since the start of the year.

Anthony Pompliano, founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management, highlighted bitcoin’s increasing appeal to large investors in a letter to clients:
“Bitcoin is the only asset I am aware of where it becomes less risky as it grows in size… With its market cap now measured in trillions, almost every capital allocator on the planet can put exposure on.”

The rally has been supported by crypto-friendly policies from the Trump administration, which have unlocked more capital for digital assets. For example, Trump Media & Technology Group recently filed to launch an exchange-traded fund investing in multiple cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, ether, solana, and ripple.

Bitcoin’s surge also boosted the broader cryptocurrency market. Ether, the second-largest token, climbed to a one-month high of $2,794.95, last up 5.4% at $2,740.99. Shares in crypto-related companies also gained, with MicroStrategy rising 4.7% to $415.41 and Coinbase Global up 5.4% to $373.85.

Crypto Funds’ Assets Reach Record High as Investors Hedge and Diversify

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Assets in crypto funds surged to an all-time high in May amid easing trade tensions and growing investor appetite for digital currencies as tools to hedge market volatility and diversify away from U.S. assets.

Data from Morningstar covering 294 crypto funds shows net inflows of $7.05 billion last month—the highest since December—pushing total assets under management to a record $167 billion.

Nicolas Lin, CEO of fintech firm Aether Holdings, noted that bitcoin is “starting to come into its own again,” transitioning from merely a high-volatility asset to one increasingly used for hedging exposure. Over the past three months, bitcoin has risen more than 15%, outperforming the MSCI World Index’s 3.6% gain and gold’s 13.3% increase.

Analyst Nic Puckrin of Coin Bureau cited a loss of faith in the U.S. investment outlook as a key driver behind bitcoin’s rise. With the dollar projected to weaken, bond yields rising, and equity markets uncertain, bitcoin has maintained strength. Institutional inflows have further supported bitcoin, especially after U.S. approvals of spot bitcoin and ether ETFs.

Contrasting crypto funds, Lipper data showed $5.9 billion flowed out of global equity funds in May, and gold funds experienced their first outflow in 15 months, at $678 million—highlighting a broader shift toward portfolio diversification.

Lin anticipates that crypto inflows will remain strong but steadier than the initial rush following ETF launches. “What’s happening now is more important — it’s the start of crypto becoming a permanent fixture in diversified portfolios,” he said.

Supporting this trend, Coinshares data reports bitcoin funds attracted a net $5.5 billion and ether funds $890 million in May.