Key Takeaways:
Bitwise lately simply acquired Refrain One which has over $2.2 billion at stake.This deal provides greater than 30 proof-of-stake networks to Bitwise Onchain Options.Bitwise presently has obtained over 50 engineers and researchers from Refrain One, enhancing its staking capability.
Bitwise is rushing up strongly within the staking subject. By buying Refrain One, one of many largest staking service suppliers for establishments, this $15 billion value crypto asset supervisor is making large strikes into infrastructure creating on-chain yield. By means of this deal, Bitwise strengthens its function within the context that monetary establishments search for staking providers complying with rules and massive dimension in several networks.
We’re happy to announce that Bitwise has acquired Refrain One, a number one institutional staking supplier with over $2 billion in staked property.
The enterprise has been included into Bitwise Onchain Options, the staking division of Bitwise, and expands our staking… pic.twitter.com/6TZFIAXgTQ
— Bitwise (@Bitwise) February 24, 2026
Learn Extra: Bitwise Recordsdata Spot SUI ETF With SEC, Providing Direct Publicity and Staking Yield to Faucet a $5B Token Market
Bitwise Expands Institutional Staking Footprint
Its firm Refrain One (which was based in 2018) gained fame on the idea of fine validator infrastructure and thorough protocol analysis. It presently oversees greater than $2.2 billion in staked digital property for institutional shoppers. The corporate is now built-in into Bitwise Onchain Options (BOS), Bitwise’s staking division. BOS already helps a number of billion {dollars} in staked crypto. With this transfer, Bitwise considerably expands its multichain attain.
There may be since over 30 proof-of-stake networks coated by staking, amongst that are Solana, Avalanche, Sui, Aptos, NEAR, Tezos, TON, Hyperliquid, and Monad. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley referred to as staking “one of the compelling progress alternatives” for shoppers holding spot crypto property. The message is obvious: yield technology is changing into core infrastructure, not an add-on.
Learn Extra: Bitwise’s Hyperliquid ETF Nears Launch With 0.67% Price and Constructed-In Staking Yield
50 Engineers Be a part of, Analysis Capabilities Deepen
The deal provides 50 skilled know-how professionals to Bitwise. The infrastructure engineers and governance researchers of Refrain One will make enhancements within the validator ops, monitor techniques in addition to broadening the protection of protocols.
Strengthening Onchain Analysis and Governance
Refrain One has had a fame of meticulous analysis on protocol upgrades in addition to governance proposals. That analysis now turns into a part of Bitwise’s broader institutional providing.
For giant allocators, staking isn’t just associated to revenue. This exercise additionally requires insights on validator’s efficiency, dangers of slashing and governance taking part ranges. This integration helps Bitwise management extra strictly by way of each infrastructure and enterprise evaluation capability.
Brian Crain, CEO cum co-founder of Refrain One will transfer to the place of marketing consultant whereas the core group will be a part of Bitwise as full time staff.
Practically 200 Staff as Bitwise Scales Globally
Following the acquisition, Bitwise’s headcount approaches 200 staff worldwide. The agency manages over $15 billion in shopper property throughout ETFs and crypto funding merchandise. Bitwise is making a vertically built-in platform by introducing staking infrastructure underneath its personal roof. Asset administration and staking providers are actually available in a single ecosystem to institutional buyers.
The monetary circumstances of the deal weren’t publicized. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), a Stifel firm, suggested Refrain One on the deal. As proof-of-stake networks proceed to dominate new blockchain growth, staking providers have gotten a key income stream. Bitwise is positioning itself on the middle of that shift, combining asset administration scale with deep onchain infrastructure.
