Key Takeaways:
Bitwise just 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 at present has obtained over 50 engineers and researchers from Refrain One, enhancing its staking means.
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 way of this deal, Bitwise strengthens its function within the context that monetary establishments search for staking companies complying with rules and massive dimension in numerous networks.
We’re happy to announce that Bitwise has acquired Refrain One, a number one institutional staking supplier with over $2 billion in staked belongings.
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 premise of fine validator infrastructure and thorough protocol analysis. It at present oversees greater than $2.2 billion in staked digital belongings 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 “some of the compelling development alternatives” for shoppers holding spot crypto belongings. The message is evident: yield era is turning 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 part of, Analysis Capabilities Deepen
The deal provides 50 skilled expertise professionals to Bitwise. The infrastructure engineers and governance researchers of Refrain One will make enhancements within the validator ops, monitor programs in addition to broadening the protection of protocols.
Strengthening Onchain Analysis and Governance
Refrain One has had a popularity 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 collaborating ranges. This integration helps Bitwise management extra strictly by way of each infrastructure and enterprise evaluation means.
Brian Crain, CEO cum co-founder of Refrain One will transfer to the place of advisor whereas the core group will be a part of Bitwise as full time workers.
Almost 200 Workers as Bitwise Scales Globally
Following the acquisition, Bitwise’s headcount approaches 200 workers worldwide. The agency manages over $15 billion in consumer belongings 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 companies are actually available in a single ecosystem to institutional buyers.
The monetary situations 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 companies have gotten a key income stream. Bitwise is positioning itself on the heart of that shift, combining asset administration scale with deep onchain infrastructure.
