BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) has taken a significant step in its strategic expansion into the Solana ecosystem with the launch of its first self-operated Solana validator and the acquisition of over 27,000 SOL tokens.

The move underscores the cryptocurrency infrastructure company’s long-term commitment to supporting the Solana network while building out its own staking and infrastructure capabilities.

Its announcement comes as Solana looks to bounce off recent lows, with the altcoin up 5% in the past 24 hours as it trades around $171. 

The Akron, Ohio-based company announced on Tuesday that it had launched a Solana validator managed by its internal infrastructure team and supported by proprietary technologies.

This comes on the heels of its July 10 announcement outlining a strategic pivot toward the Solana ecosystem, including plans to raise up to $300 million for SOL acquisitions and related infrastructure development.

As part of the validator launch, BIT Mining has purchased 27,191 SOL, valued at approximately $4.89 million.

These holdings form the foundation of a growing SOL treasury, which the company intends to expand as it scales its network presence.

By staking its own tokens through a self-operated validator, BIT Mining is not only positioning itself to earn on-chain rewards but also contributing to the decentralization and security of the Solana blockchain—a factor increasingly valued in proof-of-stake networks.

Bo Yu, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of BIT Mining, described the development as “a foundational step in operationalizing our Solana strategy,” adding that the company aims to “help power the network” rather than simply hold tokens.

The deployment of a validator is a notable step in building an active presence within the Solana ecosystem.

Validators play a critical role in verifying transactions, maintaining the ledger, and securing the network.

For Solana, which has seen rapid growth in its decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible token (NFT), and gaming applications, increased validator participation is essential for scaling while maintaining performance and security.

By running its own validator, BIT Mining is positioning itself as more than just a passive investor in Solana.

The company is aligning its operational model with Solana’s long-term success, which could create synergies between its infrastructure expertise and the blockchain’s expanding use cases.

The move also highlights a growing trend of infrastructure-focused crypto companies deepening involvement in specific blockchain ecosystems as a means of diversifying revenue streams and gaining strategic influence over network development.

BIT Mining’s purchase of Solana as a treasury asset comes amid a growing trend of institutional interest in crypto treasury strategies.

Michael Saylor’s company Strategy opened this floodgate with its Bitcoin haul, and now there are corporate holders of nearly all the top 10 altcoins – from Ethereum, XRP, BNB and TRON.

For Solana, some of the top public companies holding SOL are DeFi Development Corp, Upexi, and Sol Strategies.

As factors such as spot ETFs with staking come into play amid regulatory clarity, experts say Solana’s appeal could grow even further.

The market sentiment amid this has been positive, and the SOL price eyes a breakout above $200 as bulls position.

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