The amount of Ether (ETH) waiting to be staked has exceeded the amount queued for unstaking, a signal that has historically preceded significant ETH price rallies.
Ethereum’s validator entry queue has risen to 745,619 ETH, valued at approximately $2.2 billion at current prices, with an estimated wait time of 13 days.
This surpasses the exit queue for the first time since June, which currently stands at 360,528 ETH, or around $1.06 billion.
The surge marks the highest level of Ether designated for staking by validators since November 30.
Staking Activity Hits New Highs
Data from ValidatorQueue indicates that active validators now exceed 983,371, with roughly 29.3% of the total ETH supply staked—around 35.5 million ETH.
“Ethereum validator entry queue just flipped exit queue,” DefiIgnas noted on X, adding:
“The Pectra upgrade improved staking UX and raised maximum validator limits, making restaking easier for large balances.”
This trend suggests that most validators intend to hold their ETH, reducing selling pressure on the market.
“ETH validator entry queue is now bigger than the exit queue, for the first time in six months,” said Abdul, head of defi Monad, on X.
He noted that the last time this shift occurred in June, Ether’s price doubled shortly afterward.
Historical Precedents Suggest Upside
TradingView data shows that in both March and June, the number of ETH waiting to be staked surpassed that of ETH waiting to be unstaked.
Those instances preceded major rallies of 90% and 126% in Ether’s price, respectively.
If history repeats itself, ETH could rise to as high as $5,000 in 2026, supported by higher staking activity, increased network usage, and lower transaction fees.
Technical Patterns Support Bullish Outlook
Ether’s current price structure mirrors the fractal pattern that triggered its Q4/2024 rally, as noted by several crypto traders.
The horizontal price action between $2,750 and $3,200 resembles the whipsaw between $2,260 and $2,750 observed from July to October 2024.
After breaking above $2,750 last year, ETH surged 74.5% to $4,100 by December.
With current prices holding above $2,750, the ETH/USD pair could potentially rise 75% toward $5,120, echoing the previous rally.
Investor Titan of Crypto commented:
“ETH has already retraced 61.8% from its last impulsive move.”
He added that the current level often triggers price reactions, as seen in mid-2024.
“$2,750 is the key level to watch over the coming weeks.”
Market Caution
Despite these bullish indicators, some industry experts warn that Ether’s climb to new all-time highs in 2026 could be uncertain or even a “bull trap.”
Investors are advised to monitor both staking trends and technical price action closely before making major decisions.