Ethereum has reached a new milestone as staking activity climbed to an all-time high, underscoring growing investor confidence in the network’s long-term outlook. With nearly a third of all Ether now locked into staking contracts, the shift reflects a clear preference among holders to earn yield and support network security rather than sell into the market. Institutional participation, led by firms such as BitMine, is playing an increasingly visible role in this trend.
Ethereum Staking Reaches Historic Levels
According to recent data, the total value of Ethereum staked has surged to approximately $118 billion, calculated at an ETH price near $3,302. This represents the highest proportion of staked Ether in the network’s history, surpassing the previous peak recorded in mid-2025.
The Beacon Chain, Ethereum’s core proof-of-stake infrastructure, currently holds about 35.8 million ETH, equal to 29.5% of the circulating supply. That figure highlights how deeply staking is now embedded in Ethereum’s ecosystem, reinforcing network stability while reducing liquid supply in the market.
Staking participation has expanded rapidly alongside validator growth. The number of active validators has climbed to 976,117, reflecting both retail and institutional interest. Meanwhile, an additional 2.3 million ETH sits in the queue awaiting activation, suggesting staking levels may rise further in the coming weeks.
Key indicators of the staking surge include:
- $118 billion total value locked in staking
- 29.5% of ETH supply committed to validators
- 976,000+ active validators securing the network
Lido and Validator Growth Shape the Network
Liquid staking platforms remain central to Ethereum’s staking landscape. Lido Finance alone accounts for roughly 24% of all staked ETH, making it the single largest staking provider. Its scale has helped lower barriers for participants while also concentrating influence within a handful of platforms.
The steady rise in validator participation reflects confidence in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake model, which rewards long-term holders while reducing energy consumption compared with proof-of-work systems. For new investors, staking has become a core feature of ETH ownership rather than a niche activity.
BitMine Adds $514M as Institutional Staking Expands
Institutional demand is increasingly shaping staking dynamics. BitMine Immersion, the largest Ethereum treasury company, has emerged as a major contributor to recent growth. On-chain data shows the firm added 154,304 ETH, worth about $514 million, to its staking portfolio in a matter of hours.
BitMine launched its Ethereum staking strategy as part of a broader effort to manage roughly $4 billion in debt during a prior ETH downturn. Since then, the company has steadily expanded both its staking exposure and overall holdings. Recent purchases of 24,266 ETH lifted BitMine’s total Ether reserves to approximately 4.17 million ETH.
With BitMine signaling it will continue staking a portion of its treasury, institutional involvement is likely to keep pushing Ethereum’s staking metrics higher. For the broader market, the trend points to sustained confidence in Ethereum’s future as both a financial asset and a foundational blockchain network.
