Ethereum unstaking surge pushes exit wait time to nine days

Ethereum’s (ETH) validator exit queue has surged over the past week, with 521,000 ETH ($1.9 billion) now awaiting withdrawal, according to The Block. Data from ValidatorQueue.com indicates that this spike in exits began around July 16, extending the wait time to eight to nine days—the longest since early 2024. At the same time, more than 359,500 ETH ($1.3 billion) is queued for staking, facing a six-day activation delay. This divergence highlights two opposing forces: profit-taking after ETH’s 162% rebound from April lows and renewed staking demand fueled by regulatory clarity. Notably, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed in May that ETH staking does not constitute a securities offering. This clarification has encouraged institutional participation, prompting firms such as SharpLink Gaming and BitMine Immersion to establish ETH treasuries and staking operations.