What’s Better Than Bitcoin? Institutional Buying Is Changing

For years, Bitcoin was the default choice for institutions wanting crypto exposure. But the recent crypto news indicates that the focus has started to shift.

Today, the smart money is moving into new bets, especially Ethereum and Solana. From ETF inflows to treasury allocations and staking strategies, institutional crypto buying is clearly evolving.

And it’s not just about price; it’s about utility, scalability, and future-proof value.

Crypto News: Ethereum Is Becoming the New Treasury Favorite

BitMine Immersion Technologies, a public company focused on crypto treasury management, has made a bold move.

In just the last seven days, BitMine bought 266,119 ETH worth around $970 million. This brings their total Ethereum holdings to 566,776 ETH, valued at over $2 billion.

This isn’t just any crypto bet; it’s part of BitMine’s larger strategy to hold Ethereum as a primary treasury asset. It is similar to how companies like MicroStrategy treated Bitcoin.

But BitMine is going even further. They’re also developing ETH-based treasury products, and recently started trading options on the NYSE.

The move gained even more attention after Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest gobbled up over 572,000 shares of BitMine stock.

That’s a strong signal of confidence, especially since ARK has recently trimmed exposure to traditional crypto stocks like Coinbase and Block.

All this means that institutional crypto buying is no longer just about holding Bitcoin. Ethereum, with its growing utility and staking yield, is becoming the new favorite.

ETF Flows Confirm the Shift

The rotation isn’t just visible on company balance sheets. It’s showing up in spot ETF flows, too.

In the week ending July 25, Ethereum ETFs saw $1.85 billion in net inflows, blowing past Bitcoin ETFs.

The latter managed just $72 million in the same time frame. That’s a massive difference, and the trend has been building for weeks.

Ethereum ETFs are stacking billions in new capital while BTC inflows continue to decline.

This suggests that institutional crypto buying is now more interested in utility and yield, not just store-of-value narratives. Ethereum’s dominance in DeFi, staking, and tokenization is making it a more compelling asset.

Solana Leads The Staking Race

Recent crypto news reports reveal that while Ethereum takes the treasury spotlight, Solana is quietly winning in the staking and validator rewards game.

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest selected Solana Strategies as its exclusive validator infrastructure provider; another major sign of confidence.

ARK is backing a network that’s fast, low-cost, and rapidly growing in real-world usage.

According to recent Dune data:

• Solana validators earned over 150,000 SOL in total rewards last month, worth more than $27 million.
• Inflationary rewards have been decreasing, but MEV (Miner Extractable Value) and fee revenue are rising, meaning the network is maturing.
• Validator participation is holding steady, with over 1,000 active validators and billions of monthly transaction counts.

What’s even more impressive is Solana’s yield. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) for staking has remained strong despite market cycles, averaging around 7–10%.

This yield, combined with the network’s rapid growth, makes it an attractive option for institutional crypto buying focused on passive income and chain fundamentals.

The common thread? Institutions are no longer piling into Bitcoin just for the sake of it. Whether it’s BitMine building a $2 billion ETH treasury or Solana being selected for high-reward validator roles, the focus has shifted.

Even the ETF market confirms it. Recent crypto news reports reveal Ethereum is winning inflows, while Bitcoin is starting to feel stale.

Institutional crypto buying now leans into assets that offer staking yield, infrastructure support, and smart contract capability.