Ethereum Staking Hits Record High Amid Price Decline

Ethereum staking has reached an all-time high of 41.7 million ETH, despite the cryptocurrency's price decline this year. According to a chart shared by Bitfinex on August 10, the locked balance represents about 34.5% of Ethereum's 120.7 million circulating supply.

The staked balance stayed near 36 million ETH through late 2025, but deposits began rising in February and accelerated between June and August. This trend suggests that validators are continuing to stake their ETH despite the lower market prices.

Validators receive newly issued ETH when they propose blocks and validate transactions, which can be reinvested to benefit from compounding their balances as the value of ETH falls. Some stakeholders have even generated priority fees and maximum extractable value (MEV) through this process.