Bitwise To Acquire Chorus One to Expand Crypto Staking Services

Bitwise Asset Management is acquiring Chorus One, a leading institutional crypto staking provider, in a move that marks a major expansion into onchain yield generation.

Key Takeaways

• Bitwise is acquiring staking firm Chorus One to grow its crypto yield offerings, especially as demand for staking rises.
• Chorus One currently manages around $2.2 billion in staked assets and serves institutional clients with secure staking infrastructure.
• The deal comes amid a record-breaking year for crypto M&A activity, which reached $37 billion in 2025.
• Ethereum staking demand is booming, with over 36 million ETH staked and validator queues stretching more than 70 days.

What Happened?

Bitwise Asset Management, one of the largest crypto asset managers globally with over $15 billion in assets, is acquiring Chorus One to strengthen its staking capabilities. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but both companies confirmed the acquisition in statements to Bloomberg. The move aligns with a broader trend of consolidation in the crypto industry and growing interest in staking from both retail and institutional investors.

Bitwise Expands Beyond Passive Funds

For years, Bitwise has been best known for offering simple index-style crypto investment products. But the firm has been quietly expanding its toolkit. This latest deal follows Bitwise’s recent launch of model portfolios tailored to various risk profiles, aimed at helping financial advisers allocate digital assets more effectively.

With the addition of Chorus One, Bitwise is moving deeper into yield-focused strategies, giving clients the option to stake their existing assets directly through Bitwise’s platform. CEO Hunter Horsley explained the motivation clearly:

Chorus One Brings Institutional-Grade Infrastructure

Chorus One brings serious credibility to Bitwise’s staking ambitions. With about $2.2 billion in assets staked, Chorus One provides services across a wide range of decentralized networks, including Ethereum and Solana.

More importantly, Chorus One specializes in serving institutional clients such as exchanges, asset managers, and foundations. Its infrastructure is built for high security, compliance, and reliability, a perfect match for Bitwise’s growing client base.

Chorus One CEO Brian Fabian Crain welcomed the acquisition, calling it a natural step in the industry’s evolution:

Staking Demand Soars on Ethereum

This acquisition comes at a time when interest in staking is surging, especially on Ethereum. Over 36 million ETH representing about 30 percent of the total supply is now staked. The entry queue to become a validator has ballooned past 4 million ETH, resulting in wait times over 70 days.

Other major asset managers are jumping on the staking trend too. Morgan Stanley recently filed for a spot Ethereum ETF that would stake part of its holdings. Meanwhile, Grayscale announced plans to distribute staking rewards through its Ethereum Trust ETF, making it the first US-listed product to offer direct onchain staking payouts.

Crypto M&A Reaches New Heights

Bitwise’s move also fits into a broader M&A boom across the crypto industry. Mergers and acquisitions in the digital asset sector hit a record $37 billion in 2025, according to Architect Partners. That includes more than 265 deals, driven by improving market sentiment and renewed interest following major political shifts like Donald Trump’s return to office.

Other notable deals this year include Coinbase’s acquisition of Deribit for $2.9 billion and Stakin’s acquisition by The Tie, signaling that infrastructure players are consolidating rapidly to meet growing institutional demand.

CoinLaw’s Takeaway

In my experience, this is a smart and strategic move by Bitwise. They are no longer content just offering passive exposure to crypto. By acquiring Chorus One, Bitwise is locking in a valuable position in the staking space right when Ethereum staking is exploding and institutions are hungry for yield. I found it particularly interesting that even major firms like Morgan Stanley and Grayscale are now embracing staking. It shows the shift is not just coming, it is already here. Bitwise is clearly betting that clients want more than just token exposure. They want their crypto to work for them.

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