Despite a record-high exit queue exceeding 2.6 million ETH, representing around $12 billion and a 44-day wait time, institutional investors continue to show strong interest in Ethereum, with holdings increasing by 116% since July 1 to over 11.76 million ETH.

This sustained demand is helping to offset potential sell pressure, as many investors may be seeking profits following ETH's 97% price increase over the past year, though not all validators intend to sell.

The active validator count remains above 1.05 million, with approximately 29.4% of ETH staked, and the number of ETH waiting to be unstaked has decreased to around 512,755 ETH, indicating some stabilization in staking activity.

Market analysts suggest that the SEC could approve ETH ETFs sooner than the April 2026 deadline, possibly as early as October 2025, with major firms like BlackRock expected to pursue approval.

The inflow of ETH into institutional holdings and ETFs indicates strategic accumulation, with many entities staking for additional yields, and the upcoming launch of ETH staking ETFs could further influence market dynamics.