The price of Ether (ETH) had fallen 7% since being rejected from the $3,400 mark last week, falling to key support levels. The data suggests that increased demand for staking coupled with renewed ETF inflows and powerful technical support may lead to a sustained recovery.
Key Takeaways:
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Ether queued for staking goes parabolic, with a wait time of 44 days.
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Institutional demand for Ethereum is recovering together with ETF inflows.
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ETH bulls must defend support at $3,100 to set the stage for sustained gains.
Ethereum staking demand surges to its highest level in 30 months
Ethereum's entry queue has exceeded 2.6 million ETH, price $8.3 billion at current prices, with a waiting period of 44 days.
This is the best amount of Ether set for staking by the network's validators since July 2023.
Data from ValidatorQueue shows that the present variety of energetic validators is 978,657, with 29.76% of the whole ETH supply staked, or about 36.1 million ETH.
“Ethereum entry queue is at its highest level in 2.5 years,” analyst Ted Pillows said in a post on Sunday, adding:
“Insane demand for Ethereum staking.” ETH validator queue. Source: ValidatorQueue.com
The massive inflows of staking are amplifying ETH’s supply-demand dynamics, potentially setting the stage for upward price momentum this yr.
Meanwhile, the Ethereum stake validator exit queue has dropped to zero, signaling a major decrease in selling pressure and increasing confidence within the return-producing feature of ETH tokenomics.
“Ethereum’s validator exit queue has been completely cleared,” crypto investor Langerius said in an X post on Sunday, adding that it’s a bullish signal when people decide to stake ETH as an alternative of selling it.
Onchain Foundation research director Leon Waidmann said this last happened in July 2025, before ETH price surged 100% to succeed in its current all-time high of $4,950 on August 24, 2025.
Ethereum ETF demand is showing signs of recovery
Increased accumulation and purchases by Ether treasuries and ETH spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provided the demand-side pressure needed to maintain ETH above $3,000.
Data from Capriole Investments shows that collective holdings in strategic reserves and ETFs have increased by 10% since November 22, 2025, increasing from 11,594,738 ETH to 12,227,531 ETH.
The chart below shows that strategic ETH reserve units and ETFs now hold 9.72% of the whole ETH supply, price around $40.1 billion.
The sharp rise underscores Ether's rapid consolidation within the hands of major institutional and company players.
Reserve for Ether government bonds and ETF holdings. Source: Captiole Investments
Most of those firms are or can be using ETH as a part of their trading strategies for added returns, which could have helped increase the entry queue in recent weeks.
Tom Lee-led BitMine Immersion Technologies, the biggest corporate Ether treasury holder, has continued to aggressively deploy its ETH holdings, adding 186,560 ETH (price around $625 million) to its staking account last week.
This brings the whole amount staked by the corporate to 1,530,784 ETH, price roughly $5.13 billion, or 4% of the whole 36 million ETH staked on the Beacon Chain.
Meanwhile, spot buying of Ethereum ETFs continues, with these investment products seeing inflows totaling $479 million every day last week, in response to data from SoSoValue.
The inflows were followed by a three-day period of outflows that saw these Ethereum funds lose a complete of $351 million between January seventh and January ninth.
Ethereum ETF flow table. Source: Farside Investors
The important cost base range is around $3,100
Investors purchased roughly 3.27 million ETH at a mean price between $3,100 and $3,170, creating a possible support zone, in response to Ether's cost basis distribution data.
Therefore, this price level is essential as it will possibly function a possible launching pad for the subsequent increase.
Ethereum cost base distribution chart. Source: Glassnode
Analysts say ETH needs to carry support at $3,170, which coincides with the 21-day easy moving average (SMA), for bulls to regain footing.
“The 21-day MA is an important level to carry, and ETH has held this level well,” Michael van de Poppe, founding father of MN Capital, said in a recent post on X, adding:
“Now it’s poised to succeed in recent highs and proceed the uptrend. 
ETH/USD each day chart. Source: Michael van de Poppe
As Cointelegraph reported, holding above the $3,050-$3,170 demand zone is crucial to ETH's upside prospects and sets the stage for a possible recovery above $4,000.
This article doesn’t contain any investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading activity involves risks and readers should conduct their very own research when making their decision. While we try to supply accurate and up-to-date information, Cointelegraph doesn’t guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the data in this text. This article may contain forward-looking statements which might be subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph is not going to be responsible for any loss or damage arising out of your reliance on this information.
