Bitwise moves deeper into staking with Chorus One acquisition

Asset managers are adding staking services so institutions can earn on proof-of-stake tokens. For many allocators, the harder part is operations, so they prefer to outsource validator setup, key management, and reporting to specialist providers.

Bitwise said it has agreed to acquire Chorus One, a staking services provider focused on institutional clients. The companies confirmed the deal in statements, and terms were not disclosed. Chorus One says it has roughly $2.2 billion in assets staked through its platform. 

Chorus One runs validator infrastructure for dozens of proof-of-stake networks and positions itself as an enterprise-grade staking partner. Its public materials highlight support for more than 30 protocols, including Ethereum and Solana. 

Bitwise leadership has been pointing clients toward staking for months. Hunter Horsley said staking is one of the most attractive growth opportunities for investors who already hold spot crypto, and he tied the Chorus One deal to that demand. Chorus One CEO Brian Fabian Crain, meanwhile, said staking works best when it is integrated into a larger platform, arguing that consolidation across parts of the crypto stack is already underway. 

The acquisition also fits Bitwise’s recent operating model. In late 2024, the firm bought Ethereum staking provider Attestant and rolled it into a new Onchain Solutions group, aiming to offer non-custodial staking with institutional reporting and compliance controls. 

For Bitwise clients, the practical question is what changes first: broader network coverage, tighter custody-to-staking workflows, or packaged staking products that can sit alongside the firms funds and separately managed accounts. For the industry, the deal is another sign that staking is shifting from a niche service into core infrastructure that asset managers want to own.