Ethereum Staking Exit Queue Hits 2026 High Amid MetaMask Withdrawals

Ethereum’s staking exit queue has reached a record high in 2026, with 786,275 ETH awaiting withdrawal, creating an estimated delay of 13 days and 16 hours. This surge was largely driven by MetaMask’s precautionary validator withdrawals following a security incident. Lido anticipates that most of the affected ETH will be restaked, mitigating concerns about a significant reduction in staked supply.

The exit queue ballooned from approximately 166,000 ETH on September 29 to around 851,000 ETH on October 2 before easing slightly. The increase was primarily due to MetaMask’s defensive exits, with an estimated 523,000 ETH across roughly 17,000 validators impacted. However, MetaMask has not confirmed these figures.

Ethereum’s protocol limits the rate of validator exits and entries to maintain network security. The exit queue is therefore a controlled delay, not an indication that withdrawals have already reached liquid wallets. Validators must complete a separate withdrawal process before funds become available, which can take up to 45 days for the full exit, withdrawal, and re-entry cycle.

Despite the exit queue spike, the entry queue remains larger, with 1.46 million ETH waiting to enter and a 25-day activation period. ValidatorQueue reports 43.7 million ETH staked, representing 35.76% of supply, with an estimated annual percentage rate (APR) of 2.63%. The balance between entry and exit demand continues to shape Ethereum’s liquid staking market.