Crypto asset manager Bitwise Asset Management has acquired the institutional staking services provider Chorus One. The move represents a calculated expansion of its onchain services division as traditional finance increasingly demands yield-bearing digital assets.
Bitwise Acquires Chorus One in Push to Expand Institutional Staking Capabilities
25 February 2026 - 16:10 CET
By Sandmark staff
This specific Bitwise division already oversees several billion dollars in staked crypto assets for institutional investors, family offices and financial platforms, according to the company. While the exact financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, Chorus One reportedly managed approximately $2.2bn in staked assets at the time of the acquisition.
The multi-chain yield grab
Chorus One operates staking infrastructure across more than 30 proof of stake networks, including Solana, Avalanche, Sui, NEAR, Aptos and Tezos. The acquisition brings this extensive multi-chain capability and an engineering team of roughly 50 technology staff directly into the operations division of Bitwise.
Hunter Horsley, the chief executive of Bitwise, stated the deal dramatically accelerates the technical and research capabilities of the firm. Meanwhile, Chorus One co-founder Brian Crain will transition into an advisory role. The acquisition also expands the global Bitwise workforce to nearly 200 employees.
Institutionalizing proof of stake
Staking involves locking tokens to secure blockchain networks in exchange for rewards, usually in the form of additional tokens. This mechanism has rapidly evolved from a niche crypto native activity into a foundational component of institutional asset allocation. Independent research from AMINA Bank recently noted this exact structural shift, highlighting that staking is now a mainstream component of institutional frameworks.
The broader crypto asset management industry is actively packaging these staking services into regulated, revenue-generating products. As highlighted by Grayscale Research, institutional demand for structured yield is a primary catalyst driving broader market adoption.
Crucially, this infrastructure land grab is being enabled by shifting regulatory winds. In August 2025, the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidance clarifying that certain liquid staking activities do not inherently constitute securities offerings. This regulatory clarity has essentially given asset managers the confidence to build out massive institutional staking operations without the immediate threat of enforcement action.
