Ethereum sees staking demand rebound as queues turn net positive

The entry queue for ETH validators now holds about 745,619 ETH with an estimated 13-day wait to become active, while the exit queue – where ETH awaits release after unstaking – stands near 360,518 ETH with an approximately eight-day delay, according to data from the Ethereum Validator Queue tracker.

The crossover occurred after both queues were roughly equal in size around 460,000 ETH, but the entry queue accelerated sharply in late December as ETH demand for staking grew. Network participants regard the inversion of these queues as an indication of renewed confidence among validators and long-term holders that prefer to secure ETH rather than pull it out of the staking system.

Under Ethereum’s proof-of-stake model, validators stake ETH to help secure the network and earn rewards, but exits must queue because protocol rules limit how quickly validators can deactivate and withdraw their assets. A larger entry queue relative to exits suggests that more investors are choosing to lock up ETH for staking rather than withdraw it, shifting the balance of supply dynamics within the network.

Analysts tracking the on-chain change noted that similar fluctuations in staking behavior have historically preceded upward moves in ETH prices. Abdul, head of DeFi at layer-1 network Monad, referenced a comparable staking queue reversal in June 2025 that was followed by strong price performance in the subsequent months.

Market observers said several factors may have contributed to the shift, including increased participation from digital asset treasury firms and large holders deploying ETH into staking. Some entities have been moving significant amounts of ETH toward validators, tightening available liquid supply and reinforcing staking demand relative to exit volume.

The upcoming Pectra upgrade, designed to improve staking parameters such as validator limits and on-chain efficiency, may also be encouraging holders to stake in anticipation of more favorable conditions for long-term participation.

Ethereum’s staking queues are closely watched indicators because they reveal changing incentives around locking and unlocking ETH. When exit queues grow larger than entry queues, it can signal potential sell pressure as validators seek liquidity, while higher entry queues imply confidence and a preference to hold ETH in staking for rewards.

Since Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake in 2022, validator entry and exit queues have periodically fluctuated as market sentiment, price action and protocol changes influence staking behavior. Earlier in 2025, spikes in exit demand briefly outweighed staking inflows amid market volatility, but the recent flip toward stronger staking demand marks a reversal of that trend.