Ethereum Staking Exit Queue Delays Unstaking by 14 Days
According to Beaconchain data, the Ethereum staking exit queue has grown to 831,056 ETH, resulting in an average unstaking wait time of approximately 14 days. Meanwhile, 355,919 ETH remains in the validator login queue with a 6-day wait. The network now supports over 1.08 million active validators, securing 35.6 million ETH (29.46% of total supply) in its staking mechanism. Bitcoin maximalist Samson Mow noted a recent spike in exits, with 768,400 ETH (~$3.5 billion) exiting the queue and warned that the ETH/BTC ratio could drop to 0.03. Analysts attribute the mass unstaking to leveraged staking cycles unwinding, as stETH collateral borrowers reduce positions amid rising funding costs. Traders should monitor the staking exit queue closely, as prolonged unstake delays may heighten selling pressure on ETH.
Bearish
Extended unstaking wait times in the Ethereum staking exit queue often signal increased selling pressure as validators delay redemption of their staked ETH. Historically, long exit queues have coincided with downward price movements, as the backlog pressures the market with potential sell orders once withdrawals finalize. In this instance, the surge to over 831,000 ETH awaiting exit suggests that a considerable volume may hit the market in the coming weeks, intensifying short-term bearish momentum.
Moreover, rising borrowing and funding costs—cited as drivers of leveraged staking unwind—underscore immediate liquidity needs that typically translate into sell-side activity. While the broader staking mechanism continues to secure network security, the near-term imbalance between exiting and entering stakers (355,919 ETH awaiting entry vs. 831,056 ETH exiting) tilts market sentiment toward bearish.
However, in the long term, these delays could stabilize staking demand by discouraging short-term flips, potentially supporting ETH price resilience once queues normalize. Yet for traders focused on immediate market dynamics, the extensive exit queue aligns with a bearish outlook.