Ethereum Staking Backlog Hits 1.5M ETH as MetaMask Exits Validators
Ethereum's staking entry queue has reached approximately 1.46 million ETH, representing a wait of around 25 days for new stakers to begin earning rewards. This congestion comes as MetaMask Staking exits its validators following a security incident disclosed on September 30. According to validatorqueue.com, the exit queue also remains elevated, with roughly 786,000 ETH in the process of leaving.
MetaMask has not confirmed exact figures, but security researcher Kaden estimated that about 17,000 validators holding roughly 523,000 ETH were affected. The company assured users that there is no indication of compromised wallets or customer funds. Kaden also noted that about 0.36 ETH in block rewards had been diverted to an unexpected address.
Lido, the liquid staking protocol, reported that MetaMask Staking's validators within its system should be fully exited by the end of October 7, 2026. The exited ETH is expected to take up to 45 days to return through the exit, withdrawal, and re-entry cycle due to the extended entry queue. Lido contributors proposed setting MetaMask Staking's target limit to zero in the protocol's staking modules, which would prevent new deposits from being allocated to the operator. This change is slated for Lido's next on-chain vote.
Lido emphasized that no action is required from stETH holders. The exits may result in foregone rewards and potential downtime penalties if validators are taken offline. The situation highlights the challenges faced by Ethereum's staking mechanism amid heightened security concerns.