--- title: 'Bitmine to Stop Ether Purchases After Reaching 5% of Supply, Says Tom Lee' url: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-07-bitmine-to-stop-ether-purchases-after-reaching-5-of-supply-says-tom-lee canonical: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-07-bitmine-to-stop-ether-purchases-after-reaching-5-of-supply-says-tom-lee date: '2026-10-07T13:05:01.670386+00:00' category: ethereum tags: - ether - bitmine - tom-lee - ethereum - market-dynamics source: CoinDesk source_url: >- https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/10/07/ether-is-about-to-lose-a-steady-buyer-as-tom-lee-says-bitmine-will-stop-token-purchases publisher: CryptoCatalyst summary: >- Bitmine, led by Tom Lee, will halt Ether purchases once it owns 5% of the circulating supply. The firm currently holds over 4.9% of ETH (~$17.2B), ending a year-long accumulation s image: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/images/articles/2026-10-07-bitmine-to-stop-ether-purchases-after-reaching-5-of-supply-says-tom-lee.webp generated_by: automated editorial pipeline --- # Bitmine to Stop Ether Purchases After Reaching 5% of Supply, Says Tom Lee Bitmine, the world's largest Ethereum treasury, will stop buying Ether once it reaches 5% of the circulating supply. The firm has been accumulating ETH since mid-2025, and its exit as a steady buyer could remove a key support for ETH's price. ## Key takeaways - Bitmine will stop buying Ether once it owns 5% of the circulating supply. - The firm currently holds over 4.9% of ETH, valued at ~$17.2 billion. - Tom Lee said Bitmine will be "done stacking" at the 5% threshold. - No plans to sell holdings have been announced by Bitmine. - Removal of Bitmine's buying pressure could increase ETH market volatility. Bitmine, the Ethereum-focused firm led by Tom Lee, has announced it will stop purchasing Ether once it owns 5% of the circulating supply. This decision marks the end of an accumulation streak that began in mid-2025, during which Bitmine became the world's largest Ethereum treasury. ## Why Is Bitmine Stopping Its Ether Purchases? Bitmine's decision to halt Ether purchases is a self-imposed cap. Tom Lee stated the firm will be "done stacking" once it reaches the 5% threshold, which aligns with its long-term investment strategy. The company has been steadily increasing its ETH holdings, particularly during market downturns, and has funded purchases through preferred stock sales and other capital markets activities. ## What Does This Mean for Ethereum's Market? Bitmine's exit as a steady buyer of Ether could remove a significant source of demand. The firm's accumulation has been a major factor supporting ETH's price during the bear market. With Bitmine stepping back, the market may experience increased volatility, especially if other large buyers do not step in to fill the void. As of late September, Bitmine held over 4.9% of Ether's circulating supply, valued at approximately $17.2 billion. ## What Should ETH Holders Watch For? ETH holders should monitor whether Bitmine begins selling its holdings or simply stops buying. The firm has not indicated any plans to sell, but the removal of its consistent buying pressure could still affect price dynamics. Additionally, ongoing developments in the Ethereum ecosystem, such as network upgrades and institutional adoption, may help offset any negative impact. For more context on Bitmine's accumulation trajectory, see our earlier coverage of [BitMine nearing 5% of Ether's supply by early November](/articles/2026-09-29-bitmine-could-hit-5-of-ethers-supply-by-early-november-whats-next). ## FAQ ### Why is Bitmine stopping its Ether purchases? Bitmine will stop buying Ether once it reaches 5% of the circulating supply. Tom Lee said the firm will be "done stacking" at that threshold, as it aligns with its long-term investment strategy. ### How much Ether does Bitmine currently hold? As of late September, Bitmine held over 4.9% of Ether's circulating supply, valued at approximately $17.2 billion. ### Will Bitmine sell its Ether holdings? Bitmine has not announced any plans to sell its Ether holdings. The firm is only stopping further purchases once it reaches the 5% threshold. ### How has Bitmine's accumulation affected the Ethereum market? Bitmine's consistent buying has been a major factor supporting ETH's price during the bear market. Its exit as a steady buyer could remove a key source of demand and potentially increase volatility. ## Source This article is a summary of reporting by [CoinDesk](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/10/07/ether-is-about-to-lose-a-steady-buyer-as-tom-lee-says-bitmine-will-stop-token-purchases), written by an automated editorial pipeline. See https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/editorial-policy. ## How to cite CryptoCatalyst.news, "Bitmine to Stop Ether Purchases After Reaching 5% of Supply, Says Tom Lee", 2026-10-07, https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-07-bitmine-to-stop-ether-purchases-after-reaching-5-of-supply-says-tom-lee