Key takeaways:
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Ether has reached a notable $3.8 billion, driven by Lido, Ethfi, and Coinbase.
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Strategic reserves and ETF holdings have surged by 140% since May 1.
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Maintaining ETH’s support at $4,200 is crucial, as there’s a potential risk of $1.2 billion if prices drop to those levels.
Ethereum’s staking framework has achieved a record high, with 877,106 ether (ETH) totaling approximately $3.888 billion. As of Friday, there’s a 15-day waiting period in place. Current data shows that there are over 1.08 million active validators, and about 29.5% of the total ETH supply is staked, translating to roughly 35.3 million.
The surge in ETH can be attributed to the top three liquid staking platforms. Lido leads with around 134,000 ETH, followed closely by Ethfi and Coinbase with 113,000 ETH each for withdrawals.
This increase in unstaked ETH might indicate ongoing large profit-taking, yet analysts think the recent accumulation and support from ether financing firms have enabled the ETH Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) to absorb much of the selling pressure.
According to data from strategicethreserve.xyz, the collective holdings of strategic reserves and ETFs have risen dramatically by 140% since May 1, jumping from 4,140,953 ETH to 10,008,263 ETH. This rapid upscale suggests a significant shift of ether supply into the hands of major institutional players.
Furthermore, there’s speculated optimism surrounding the potential launch of the ETH Staking ETF. Some analysts suggest that investors might be reallocating liquidity, preparing to soon reinvest in these products while still holding their positions in the ETH market.
The SEC’s final approval deadline is set for April 2026; however, there’s speculation it could arrive earlier, potentially as soon as October 2025.
How does waiting influence ether prices?
The number of ETHs in the queue presents both opportunities and challenges for price movements. If institutional buying remains consistent, ETH could solidify its current level or even gain momentum. Conversely, if these inflows diminish, an excess of unstaked ETH may become burdensome in the market.
Recently, ether prices experienced notable fluctuations following the US Hot Producer Price Index (PPI) print, raising inflation concerns. At the moment, the price hovers around $4,500, with potential targets in the daily order blocks or internal liquidity zones ranging from $4,370 to $4,160 before reaching $5,000.
A report from Crypto Intelligence Platform Kiyotaka indicates a significant ETH liquidation cluster exists between $5,000 and $5,200. Yet, in the last day, selling pressure has shifted toward long positions, with potential liquidation risks surpassing $1.2 billion.
If ETH cannot maintain the $4,200 support level, the next critical support area lies between $4,100 and $3,900, which aligns with previous highs, potentially enhancing its strength as a support zone.
This content is not intended as investment advice. All investment and trading carry risk, and readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
