Ethereum Staking Tops 30% Supply, $118B Locked

• Ethereum staking crosses 30% of total supply, with 36 million ETH now staked.
• Institutional investments and liquid staking tokens accelerate staking activity, tightening ETH supply.

On January 14, 2026, Cryptopolitan reported that Ethereum’s staking supply surpassed a significant benchmark, with over 30% of its total circulating supply now locked in staking contracts. Approximately 36 million ETH, valued at over $118 billion in market capitalization, is currently staked, reflecting growing confidence in the network's long-term potential.

Institutional players have been pivotal in driving this growth. For instance, Bitmine recently staked an additional 186,650 ETH, worth more than $624.8 million, as part of its broader strategy to secure up to $500 million in annualized staking rewards. By January 2026, Bitmine controlled over 3.45% of Ethereum’s total supply and continued expanding toward a 5% target, underlining the sustained appetite among large entities to increase Ethereum exposure through staking.

Staking activity has been further underscored by validator queue dynamics. Data from The Block shows that the entry queue for new validators has surpassed the exit queue, which remains nearly inactive. At the close of 2025, over 2.34 million ETH awaited validator activation—marking the highest entry numbers recorded since 2023. This ongoing demand for staking participation, coupled with minimal withdrawals, highlights the robust interest in Ethereum's staking ecosystem.

Additionally, the rise of liquid staking tokens has significantly influenced this upward trend. By enabling liquidity for stakers, these tokens allow participants to engage in decentralized finance (DeFi) markets while maintaining staked ETH positions. This innovation reduces the opportunity costs traditionally associated with staking, making it a compelling option for both retail and institutional investors.

The surge in staked ETH has profoundly affected Ethereum’s supply dynamics. A substantial portion of ETH has been removed from circulation, restricting available supply and contributing to reduced selling pressure. Exchange reserves remain limited as well, with the current annualized staking reward rate estimated at 2.82%.

As of January 14, 2026, Ethereum (ETH) trades at $3,339.30, reflecting a 6.16% increase in 24-hour trading volume, according to recent market data.