Ethereum’s recent rally has pushed ETH sharply higher. The largest altcoin, which was trading near $1,900, climbed close to $2,500. At press time, ETH was trading at $2,459.03 after gaining more than 30% over the past 30 days.
However, the price increase does not guarantee that Ethereum will continue rising. Data from the network’s staking ecosystem shows behavior that differs from what might typically be expected during a major rally.
Rather than a rush to unlock and sell ETH, Ethereum is seeing continued commitment to staking.
Ethereum staking shows limited exit pressure
According to Ethereum’s Validator Queue, the ETH ‘exit queue’ has reached zero. The network currently has approximately 902,506 active validators, while around 42.4 million ETH is staked, representing 34.8% of the total supply.
Source: Validator Queue
This development comes even after Ethereum recorded a 70% price increase. Based on the current staking data, the ETH rally may still have room to continue.
If validators expect ETH to appreciate further, exiting staking simply to sell after a 70% rally may not make sense. Stakers can also continue earning rewards for helping secure and operate Ethereum’s network while maintaining exposure to the asset.
Ethereum validator activity in August
In August 2026, the validator entry wait time fell from approximately 43–44 days to roughly 36 days, indicating that Ethereum’s large staking backlog is gradually clearing.
Source: Validator Queue
Meanwhile, the number of active validators began recovering after falling to approximately 880,000–881,000 in mid-July. During August, the count increased sharply from roughly 887,000 at the start of the month to more than 900,000 by late August, reaching approximately 902,000–903,000.
Source: Validator Queue
The recovery suggests that Ethereum’s validator base is expanding again, signaling strong staking participation and limited pressure to exit staking positions.
Institutional Ethereum staking expands
Ethereum’s largest DAT, Bitmine Immersion Technologies, has staked 5,067,309 ETH so far, with a value of approximately $12.4 billion. Shaprlink has staked more than 26,193 ETH in total.
Fidelity has also announced plans for Ethereum staking and quarterly cash distributions, potentially adding another source of income to its spot ETF.
Although Ethereum staking is attracting increased attention, Solana has a significantly higher staking participation rate, with approximately 68.3% of its supply staked. Around 421.8 million SOL is staked, generating yields of approximately 5.75%–6.5%.
Despite Solana’s higher staking participation rate, the total dollar value of assets staked on the network remains considerably lower than Ethereum’s.
Key Ethereum staking figures
- Approximately 902,506 active Ethereum validators
- Around 42.4 million ETH staked
- Staked ETH represents 34.8% of Ethereum’s total supply
- The validator entry wait time has fallen to roughly 36 days
The continued growth in active validators and the absence of an exit queue indicate that many Ethereum stakers remain committed despite the asset’s recent 70% rally.
