Overview
- SharpLink plans to stake $200 million worth of Ether using Lido’s liquid-staking protocol.
- This equates to approximately 106,000 ETH, representing about 12% of SharpLink's total holdings of around 889,000 ETH as of early August.
- The wstETH tokens will be utilized across more than 100 platforms, collectively holding around $10 billion in collateral, allowing SharpLink to earn yields while maintaining liquidity.
SharpLink, a Miami-based digital asset treasury firm, announced on Thursday its intention to stake $200 million in Ethereum through Lido, which is recognized as the leading liquid-staking protocol on the Ethereum network.
The Ethereum will be represented as wrapped staked ETH (wstETH)—a token that signifies staked ETH along with any accrued rewards—and will be custodied by Anchorage Digital.
Myriad: What’s the next price move for Ethereum? Click here to share your prediction.Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink, remarked, "This marks an exciting opportunity to enhance the productivity of our ETH holdings by utilizing wstETH's composability while adhering to institutional-grade risk management standards. Collaborating with a staking protocol of Lido's caliber enhances the diversification of our treasury strategy and grants us access to one of the most liquid and integrated assets within Ethereum's DeFi framework. This underscores our dedication to partnering with top Ethereum protocols."
The wstETH token enables SharpLink to generate staking yields while retaining liquidity and the ability to leverage the position across DeFi applications. The underlying ETH continues to earn rewards, and the wrapped token can be utilized as collateral or traded without needing to be unstaked. Lido currently manages the majority of liquid-staked ETH, with around $16.5 billion staked through its protocol, according to the announcement.
SharpLink ranks among the largest corporate holders of Ethereum globally, with staking forming a central aspect of its strategy for 2026. Earlier this year, the firm increased its holdings to over 880,000 ETH, valued at approximately $1.68 billion. The allocation to Lido supplements an existing strategy of staking and restaking rather than replacing it.
Vasiliy Shapovalov, Executive Director of Lido Labs Foundation, expressed enthusiasm regarding SharpLink's increased engagement with Ethereum's native staking protocols and the broader DeFi ecosystem, stating, "Being bullish on ETH also means being optimistic about significant Ethereum-based applications."
According to Kean Gilbert, Head of Institutional Relations at Lido Institutional, the appeal to other treasury firms is the ability to generate yield without tying up capital. He noted, "We are witnessing a distinct shift in how institutions manage Ethereum, and SharpLink's allocation serves as a compelling example. Treasuries desire their ETH to be actively working for them while maintaining liquidity, and Lido has established itself as the benchmark for achieving this on a large scale. With wstETH, a holder of SharpLink's magnitude can stake their assets while retaining the necessary flexibility for their deployment strategies."
This decision comes as treasury firms increasingly enter the Ethereum market. Last year, Standard Chartered reported that treasury companies acquired 1% of all ETH within two months, with potential to increase that to 10%, a trend that boosts demand for the same asset SharpLink is now leveraging. Tom Lee's Bitmine, recognized as the largest Ethereum corporate treasury, controls around $11 billion worth of Ethereum, with ambitions to ultimately possess at least 5% of ETH’s total supply.
As of August 3, 2026, SharpLink reported holding 888,938 ETH, meaning the Lido allocation constitutes roughly 12% of its total assets.