Since the beginning of October, the queue to exit ETH from staking has grown approximately 5-fold. At the same time, demand to enter staking has declined by more than a quarter compared to the beginning of September. As a result, the structure of flows in the Ethereum network has changed noticeably.
What is happening with the entry queue
Currently, about 1.5 million ETH is in the queue to enter staking. Waiting for one's quota takes approximately 25 days. Compared to the beginning of September, the queue has shrunk by more than a quarter. This means that there are fewer people willing to lock new coins in the network for a reward.
What is happening with the exit
At the same time, the exit queue is moving in the opposite direction. Since the beginning of October, it has grown approximately 5-fold and has become the longest since the beginning of 2026. Ethereum does not allow all validators to enter staking or exit it simultaneously. Operations proceed at a limited speed, so when the number of requests rises sharply, a queue forms for days and weeks.
Why this matters for the market
Staking temporarily removes ETH from liquid circulation. When coins are locked in the network, they cannot immediately reach exchanges or be used for selling. If the exit queue grows while the entry queue shrinks, part of ETH gradually returns to free circulation. This potentially increases the volume of coins that could end up on the market. The growth of the exit queue by itself is not a direct signal to buy or sell, but it changes the structure of ETH supply.
Why the effect will not be immediate
Due to network limitations, exiting staking does not happen instantly. With the current queue lengths, several weeks may pass between submitting a request and the actual change in balance. Therefore, the market will see the effect of the requests being formed now gradually. If the current dynamics persist, more noticeable changes may appear closer to the end of October and the beginning of November.
What next
The main question will be whether the current growth of the exit queue turns out to be a short-term spike or becomes a sustained trend. Under scrutiny will be:
- the size of the exit queue;
- the amount of ETH in the entry queue;
- the speed of actual coin withdrawals;
- the volumes of ETH flowing to exchanges;
- the price reaction to changes in supply.
If the exit continues to grow while the entry shrinks, supply-side pressure may gradually intensify.
Holding ETH and watching these queues?
The structure of ETH flows through staking can provide important context on market supply. But even a correct assessment of such data runs up against the size of available trading capital. Prop trading allows you to pass a challenge and gain access to a company account without needing to use comparable personal capital. It makes more sense to understand the mechanics of prop trading in advance, while changes in the queues are only beginning to affect the market.