04.04.2026 08:20

Ethereum’s staking campaignhas surged past the $1 billion threshold of sold ETH as the network inches ever closer to its 70,000‑ETH deposit goal.

The Ethereum Foundation announced that it has placed 69,500 ETH into the Beacon Chain validator queue, a stash worth roughly $143 million at current rates. Only a fraction—under 500 ETH—remains before the organization reaches the 70,000‑ETH milestone it publicly set.

Arkham Intelligence recorded that the latest Friday transaction moved more than 45,000 ETH in a series of 2,047‑ETH parcels, adding to a cumulative stash that now exceeds $143 million in value.

Since the program’s kickoff in February 2025—beginning with 2,016 ETH and swelling to 22,517 ETH by March—the foundation’s treasury has steadily built a position that is now poised to generate enough staking rewards to fund protocol upgrades, research, and grant initiatives without needing to sell off its ETH holdings.

CoinShares market analyst notes that ETH is trading near $2,050, holding a firm floor at $2,000 while resistance stretches toward $2,150–$2,200.

The week saw spot‑based Ether exchange‑traded funds shed $42.1 million overall, with BlackRock’s product alone accounting for $53.3 million of the outflow.

At the same time, Korean retail demand appears robust, as evidenced by a bullish Korea Premium Index that points to accumulated buying pressure in local markets. Vitalik Buterin, a co‑founder of the protocol, previously warned that committing the treasury to staking could tether the foundation to a single political faction during contentious protocol disputes or hard forks.

In response, foundation officials say they are actively probing solutions—such as diversified staking pools and governance safeguards—to mitigate that risk.

Taken together, the recent deposits, market dynamics, and strategic considerations underscore a pivotal phase for Ethereum, where large‑scale staking activity intertwines with price stability, fund flows, and evolving community narratives.