Ethereum has bounced back above $2,000 after briefly dipping below the mark, as bullish momentum slowly returns amid a volatile market. Price action may be choppy and largely sideways, but one trend that’s become impossible to ignore is persistent institutional demand for ETH.
Institutional accumulation continues despite bearish conditions
Public companies and institutional players have been steadily buying Ethereum through the downturn rather than pausing or selling. Research head Leon Waidmann of Lisk reported on X that public companies have purchased roughly 7.4 million ETH over the past 12 months — about 6.1% of the circulating supply. That buying spree has noticeably tightened the pool of sellable ETH on the market.
Corporate treasuries have also ramped up holdings in a short period. According to the data Waidmann shared, cumulative ETH in corporate treasuries rose from near zero in May 2025 to more than 6.5 million ETH by April 2026. Those coins are generally moved into treasury reserves rather than exchanges, meaning they’re effectively illiquid unless corporate governance, disclosure and regulatory steps authorize a sale.
Why this matters
When large swaths of ETH are parked in corporate treasuries or otherwise removed from exchanges, available supply for trading contracts can shrink — a dynamic that supports the narrative of ETH as a strategic asset for long-term corporate holdings. Monthly additions to corporate treasuries suggest confidence in Ethereum’s role within the evolving digital economy, even as prices plateau.
Staking hits new highs, further reducing liquidity
Institutional buying isn’t the only factor taking ETH off the market. Staking activity has surged: the amount of ETH locked in staking contracts recently hit an all-time high. In May 2021 there were about 18 million ETH staked (roughly 16% of supply); by March 2026 that figure had climbed to around 40 million ETH, roughly 32% of total supply. Waidmann emphasized that this roughly one-third share of ETH is not sitting on exchanges or in sell-ready wallets — it’s securing the proof-of-stake network.
Bottom line
Even as prices trade sideways, two structural trends are clear: steady institutional accumulation into corporate treasuries and rising staking participation. Both trends remove ETH from liquid markets and reinforce the narrative of Ethereum as a long-term strategic asset for institutions and a cornerstone of the network’s security.
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