Ethereum Could Suffer $5 Billion Sell Pressure As Exit Queue Crosses 1 Million ETH

[Ben Graham]

Ethereum is staring down one of its most significant supply risks as more than 1 million ETH, valued at $5 billion, lines up for withdrawal from staking. The unprecedented exit queue has ignited debate over whether the network could face a wave of selling pressure or if the movement marks a rotation of capital within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Ethereum Sees Record Validator Exodus 

Ethereum faces what analysts describe as the largest validator exit events in its Proof of Stake (PoS) history. Blockchain data from ValidatorQueue shows more than 1 million Ether, worth roughly $5 billion, awaiting withdrawal. Notably, validators, who play a central role in securing the network by adding new blocks and verifying transactions, have lined up to withdraw their tokens. This surge in exits has pushed the waiting period to a record of 18 days, as of writing. 

Etherscan also reports that on August 20, Ethereum’s validator exit queue surged past 916,000 ETH, the highest level in over a year. That figure ballooned to more than 1 million in less than two weeks, highlighting the rapid acceleration of withdrawals. At the same time, however, Ethereum’s entry queue also expanded—rising from just 150,000 ETH to over 580,000 ETH—creating a net staking increase of about 200,000 ETH in the past week. 

The timing of this upcoming withdrawal coincides with Ethereum’s significant price growth, which has seen the cryptocurrency gain more than 72% over the past few months. A substantial share of this pending Ether could be sold as stakers lock in profit after a rally. Moreover, if a large fraction of the $5 billion supply is unloaded on the open market, ETH could experience a sharp wave of sell pressure. 

However, while headline figures appear alarming, analysts caution against assuming that all withdrawn Ether will be dumped. Crypto market expert Joe Swanson notes that institutional buyers and Ethereum ETFs have been absorbing substantial amounts of ETH, thereby cushioning the potential downside. He argues that although the exit queue suggests short-term turbulence, the cryptocurrency’s long-term trajectory remains bullish, with projections still targeting levels above $5,000. 

Exits Signal ETH Market Rotation, Not Abandonment

ValidatorQueue’s data highlights that while the exit queue surpasses 1 million, the entry queue sits above 726,000. This implies a net staking outflow of over 320,000 ETH, indicating a possible rotation of capital rather than wholesale abandonment. 

Supporting this, crypto expert Minal Thukral stressed on X that the spike in the ETH validator queue should not be misinterpreted as a crisis. Thukral noted that Ethereum’s protocol is designed to intentionally rate-limit exits to ensure network stability, meaning congestion may not be the issue. 

According to the analyst, validator exits are better understood as capital rotations. He explained that large stakers are likely reallocating funds into liquid staking services, restating, or adjusting positions in anticipation of ETFs. At the same time, demand to enter the staking queue remains strong. This interplay between exits and entries paints a picture of a maturing market, with the real question being where the withdrawn ETH will flow next.