Bitwise acquires Chorus One to expand institutional staking business

Bitwise Asset Management, a crypto asset manager overseeing more than $15 billion in client holdings, announced today it has acquired Chorus One, a staking infrastructure provider founded in 2018. The transaction adds over $2.2 billion in staked assets to the firm’s portfolio.

Chorus One will be folded into Bitwise Onchain Solutions, the company’s institutional staking arm. The combined operation will offer staking services across more than 30 proof-of-stake networks and bring 50 additional technology specialists onto the team.

“For our thousands of clients who hold spot crypto assets, staking is one of the most compelling growth opportunities,” said Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley.

The acquired company has developed infrastructure supporting several major blockchain ecosystems, including Solana, Avalanche, Sui, NEAR, Aptos, Tezos and TON. Its client roster spans investment funds, exchanges, custodians and decentralized protocols.

Chorus One CEO Brian Crain will shift to an advisory capacity as his technical team integrates with Bitwise.

The deal positions Bitwise to capitalize on rising institutional appetite for yield-generating crypto strategies. Demand has accelerated since U.S. regulators greenlit spot crypto exchange-traded funds, prompting holders of otherwise idle digital assets to seek returns.

Bitwise, which launched in 2017 as a crypto index fund pioneer, now operates as a vertically integrated firm spanning ETFs, blockchain infrastructure and staking services. Its workforce has grown to nearly 200 employees following the acquisition.

Earlier this month, the company partnered with Kraken Institutional to roll out a tailored yield strategy aimed at managed crypto portfolios.