CoinWorld reported that due to Ethereum's increase of over 160% since April, there has been a massive cash-out wave among ETH stakers, with the number of validators exiting reaching 519,000 ETH, worth approximately $1.92 billion, and the waiting time exceeding 9 days, the highest level since January 2024. Meanwhile, the enthusiasm for institutional staking has driven the queue of ETH entering to 357,000 ETH, worth about $1.3 billion, with waiting times exceeding 6 days, the longest since April 2024. Companies like Sharplink Gaming have significantly increased staking demand since shifting to the ETH treasury strategy in May. Analysis points out that exits are mainly driven by early stakers taking profits; while entries have been boosted by regulatory positives after the SEC clearly stated on May 29 that 'staking does not violate securities laws.' As of now, the number of active Ethereum validators has surpassed 1.09 million, increasing by over 54,000 since the end of May. Figment co-founder Andy Cronk stated that institutional staking delegation has increased by over 100%, and the waiting time for validators has risen by more than 360%, in line with the rising price of ETH.
