- Ethereum has locked over 35 million ETH in staking, nearly 30% of its total supply, showing strong long-term confidence from investors and whales.
- Improved regulatory clarity and reduced available supply may set the stage for significant price movement if demand rises.
Ethereum has quietly reached a major milestone—over 35 million ETH are now locked in staking contracts, marking a new all-time high. This figure represents nearly 30% of the total circulating supply and reflects a growing trend of long-term confidence from both individual investors and institutions.
Ethereum Staking Hits Record Levels
According to data from CryptoQuant, more than 500,000 ETH were staked in the first half of June alone. On June 12, whale wallets—those holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH—pushed daily deposits to over 870,000 ETH. These large holders are clearly signaling long-term belief in Ethereum’s potential, regardless of short-term market volatility.
NEW: Staked #Ethereum hits record of
35M $ETH with 28%+ of total supply locked, reflecting growing investor confidence and shrinking liquid supply. pic.twitter.com/MkREzsKaqL
— ALexia (@Alex1i9) June 18, 2025
Platforms like Lido, which handles roughly 25% of all staked ETH, continue to dominate the staking landscape. Coinbase and Binance follow with about 7.5% each, showing that major centralized platforms are still key players in the ecosystem.
Regulatory Confidence Encourages Growth
Part of this surge in staking comes from improved regulatory clarity. The U.S. SEC has indicated that some centralized staking programs may not be classified as securities. While there is no staking-focused ETF yet, this clarification has reduced investor anxiety and opened the door for greater participation—especially from institutions previously hesitant to engage.
ETH Price Remains Flat—for Now
Despite this bullish staking activity, ETH’s price has not followed suit. Ethereum recently dropped to around $2,534, marking a 9% weekly decline, though it’s still up over 6% for the month. Analysts are watching closely for a potential golden cross—a technical indicator that has preceded major rallies in the past.
With so much ETH now effectively off the market, any increase in buying pressure could spark significant price action. In a similar setup in 2024, ETH jumped from $3,000 to $4,000 within weeks.
Long-Term Holders Show Strength
Beyond staking, 22.8 million ETH are held in wallets that have remained inactive for years. These investors are likely motivated by steady staking yields between 4–6% and the emergence of protocols like EigenLayer, which offer additional rewards without sacrificing control of the underlying asset.
The Ethereum supply available for trading is shrinking rapidly. Whether the golden cross appears, institutional interest continues, or the SEC moves on a staking ETF, any spark could trigger a strong price reaction. While ETH’s price action is quiet now, the groundwork for a breakout may already be in place.
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