Ethereum’s staking queues have flipped for the first time in six months, with inflows outpacing exits as BitMine ramps up staking and Pectra-driven demand lifts sentiment.
Summary
- Ethereum’s entry queue has grown while the exit queue has contracted, reversing a six-month trend and extending wait times for new validators.
- Abdul from Monad says a similar reversal in June preceded ETH’s run to new highs, while BitMine now controls roughly 3–3.4% of supply after heavy accumulation.
- Analysts cite treasury demand, deleveraging of leveraged staking, and the Pectra upgrade’s higher validator limits as drivers of renewed staking inflows.
Ethereum heading into inflows
Ethereum (ETH) staking inflows have surpassed exits for the first time in six months, according to data from the Ethereum Validator Queue, marking a shift in validator behavior as 2025 draws to a close.
The entry queue has expanded while the exit queue has contracted, with a substantial amount of Ether currently awaiting entry into staking with an estimated wait time of nearly two weeks, the data showed. The exit queue remains smaller with shorter delays.
The reversal occurred over the weekend when both queues briefly converged, according to the queue data. Since then, the entry line has accelerated while the exit queue has continued to decline.
Abdul, head of DeFi at layer-1 blockchain Monad, stated that the shift represents a historically significant signal. He noted that a similar reversal in June preceded a rally in Ether’s price, with the cryptocurrency trading lower at that time before climbing to an all-time high by late August. Ether is currently trading at higher levels than it was in mid-2025.
Under Ethereum’s proof-of-stake model, validators must lock up Ether to secure the network. Changes in staking behavior are frequently monitored as indicators of market sentiment, with rising exits potentially signaling intent to sell and increased staking suggesting longer-term commitment.
Abdul stated that the exit queue has served as a leading indicator of selling pressure throughout 2025. He estimated that approximately 5% of Ether’s total supply has changed hands since July, including a large September unstaking event by staking provider Kiln.
According to Abdul, around 70% of that unstaked Ether was acquired by BitMine, which now controls approximately 3.4% of the total supply.
Kiln initiated a withdrawal of its validators in September following an exploit involving digital asset platform SwissBorg, describing the action as a precautionary measure, according to statements from the company.
Abdul projected that if current trends continue, the validator exit queue could reach zero by early January, potentially easing selling pressure and stabilizing market conditions.
Members of the cryptocurrency community have attributed the surge in staking to growing demand from digital asset treasury firms, according to social media commentary. Blockchain data tracked by Lookonchain showed that BitMine staked a large amount of Ether over a two-day period.
Additional factors may include improvements related to Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade, which aims to streamline staking and increase validator limits, according to analysts. DeFi deleveraging, triggered by higher borrowing rates and the unwinding of leveraged staking strategies, may have also affected supply flows, some analysts stated.
