Justin Sun staked 45,000 ETH worth $154.5 million via Lido on 5 November, shifting his portfolio to hold $534 million in Ethereum—surpassing his $519 million in TRX—during a market crash, signaling strong confidence in Ethereum’s recovery and long-term yield.
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Justin Sun’s Ethereum staking: Withdrew 45,000 ETH from Aave and staked it through Lido for liquid rewards.
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Portfolio shift: Now holds more ETH ($534 million) than TRX ($519 million), emphasizing Ethereum over his Tron ecosystem.
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Market timing: Staked amid 12% ETH drop to $3,166, when daily staking hit lows of 9,000 ETH, per Glassnode data.
Justin Sun’s bold Ethereum staking move amid crypto crash boosts his ETH holdings over TRX—discover portfolio details, timing, and implications for investors now.
What is Justin Sun’s Ethereum staking strategy?
Justin Sun’s Ethereum staking involved withdrawing 45,000 ETH from the Aave lending protocol and depositing it into Lido for liquid staking on 5 November. This contrarian trade during a market downturn locked in the assets for yield while providing flexibility through staked ETH (stETH) tokens. The move underscores his bullish stance on Ethereum’s future amid volatility.
How did Justin Sun’s portfolio change after staking ETH?
Following the stake, Justin Sun’s Ethereum holdings reached $534 million, primarily in staked form as stETH, exceeding his $519 million in TRX holdings, according to Arkham Intelligence data. This shift highlights a strategic pivot toward Ethereum, a key competitor to Tron’s blockchain. Sun’s total portfolio spans over $1.76 billion, including $439 million in Bitcoin and $67 million in WLFI tokens. The Ethereum position now dominates, reflecting confidence in its proof-of-stake ecosystem and DeFi integrations. Staking yields around 3-4% annually, making it a committed long-term bet. Unlike passive holding, this approach generates passive income while supporting network security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Justin Sun to stake Ethereum during the market crash?
Justin Sun executed the Ethereum staking on 5 November as ETH prices fell 12% to $3,166, with markets losing $230 billion in two days. He viewed the dip as an accumulation opportunity, withdrawing from Aave and staking via Lido to earn yields while maintaining liquidity through stETH. This aligns with historical patterns where whales buy low during panic selling.
Why choose Lido for Justin Sun’s ETH staking?
Lido offers liquid staking, allowing users like Justin Sun to receive stETH tokens that can be traded or used in DeFi protocols without losing staking rewards. This provides capital efficiency during lock-up periods, unlike direct staking on Ethereum’s network. It’s a popular choice for large holders seeking flexibility in volatile markets.
Key Takeaways
- Contrarian move: Justin Sun staked $154.5 million in ETH amid a crash, pushing holdings to $534 million and overtaking TRX value.
- Portfolio dominance: Ethereum now leads Sun’s assets at $534 million, with Bitcoin at $439 million and diverse holdings totaling $1.76 billion.
- Staking implications: Low participation during the dip could reduce future sell pressure; investors should monitor Ethereum’s recovery trajectory for similar opportunities.
Conclusion
Justin Sun’s Ethereum staking represents a pivotal shift, elevating ETH holdings above TRX and betting on long-term yield amid short-term turmoil. With staking activity at multi-month lows per Glassnode, this move could signal broader market bottoms. As Ethereum stabilizes around $3,400, savvy investors may follow suit—stay tuned for evolving crypto dynamics and secure your position today.
How much Ethereum did Justin Sun stake?
Justin Sun withdrew 45,000 ETH from Aave lending protocol and immediately deposited it to Lido liquid staking on 5 November.
Does Justin Sun hold more ETH than TRX now?
Yes. Sun’s public wallets show $534 million in Ethereum holdings [primarily staked as STETH] compared to $519 million in TRX.
Tron founder Justin Sun executed a massive contrarian trade on 5 November, withdrawing $154.5 million in Ethereum from Aave and immediately staking it through Lido, following the market crash.
The move pushed his total Ethereum holdings to $534 million, surpassing even his TRX holdings.
Suns bets big on Ethereum
Portfolio data from Arkham reveals that Sun now holds $534 million in Ethereum, versus $519 million in TRX, Tron’s native token.
The founder of one of crypto’s largest blockchains holds $16 million more in a competing platform than his own creation.
The shift signals conviction in Ethereum’s long-term prospects. Staking locks ETH for yield generation, typically earning 3-4% annually.
Unlike simple holding, staking represents a committed, bullish position that requires lock-up periods.
Buying the dip at scale
Sun’s timing stands out. He moved $154.5 million into Ethereum staking as ETH crashed 12% to $3,166 and crypto markets lost $230 billion in 48 hours.
While retail traders panicked, Sun accumulated. As of this writing, ETH has recovered and now trades around $3,400.
The whale chose Lido over direct Ethereum staking, receiving liquid STETH tokens that can trade or serve as DeFi collateral while earning staking rewards. This flexibility lets him maintain capital efficiency despite the lock-up.
The billion-dollar portfolio
Arkham Intelligence data shows Sun’s complete holdings exceed $1.76 billion across multiple assets.
Beyond his dominant Ethereum and TRX positions, he holds $439 million in Bitcoin, $98.6 million in Aave-wrapped ETH, and notably $67 million in WLFI—Trump’s World Liberty Financial token.
Staking at the bottom
Glassnode data reveals why Sun’s timing is remarkable. New Ethereum staking activity collapsed from 250,000-325,000 daily deposits in August to around 9,000 by early November.
Source: Glassnode
Sun’s 45,000 ETH stake occurred precisely when staking participation hit multi-month lows.
This pattern mirrors classic bottom formation. In August, whales staked aggressively as ETH climbed toward $5,000.
By November, staking dried up as the price fell to $3,166; yet, this is historically when contrarian positions pay off.
The declining participation also improves supply dynamics. Less new staking means reduced future sell pressure from validators.
