BitMine’s $1B ETH Bet Stretches Validator Queue to 12 Days - Network Demand Soars

One billion dollars just walked into the Ethereum staking party—and the bouncer just made the line twice as long.

The Queue Conundrum

When a single entity stakes a cool $1 billion in ETH, it doesn't just add to the network's security—it reshapes the entry landscape for everyone else. The validator activation queue, the digital waiting room for new network participants, has ballooned to a 12-day delay. That's not a glitch; it's a direct consequence of massive, concentrated capital deciding proof-of-stake is the only game in town.

Capital vs. Consensus

This move highlights a growing tension in decentralized systems: the friction between open participation and institutional-scale deployment. While the staking rewards keep flowing for those already inside, new entrants are now staring at a nearly two-week onboarding process. It's a high-class problem—too much demand for a good thing—that puts network growth and accessibility under the microscope. Some call it validation; others might call it the financialization of consensus, where patience becomes a new form of collateral.

The takeaway? In crypto, even bullish bets can have unintended side effects. While traditional finance wrestles with spreadsheets and quarterly reports, here, a single transaction can recalibrate network dynamics for weeks. The queue will eventually clear, but the precedent is set: when big money talks, the network listens—and everyone else waits.

TLDR

• BitMine staked over $1 billion worth of Ether within a 48-hour period.
• The company deposited 342,560 ETH into Ethereum staking contracts before Sunday.
• Ethereum’s validator entry queue increased to 12 days and 20 hours after the move.
• The staking caused a gap between entry and exit queues on the Ethereum network.
• BitMine now controls around 4.07 million ETH which equals roughly 3.36 percent of total supply.

BitMine has staked over $1 billion worth of Ether in under 48 hours, blockchain data confirmed over the weekend. The MOVE tightened Ethereum’s liquid supply and sent validator queues to their longest levels in months.

BitMine Pushes Over 340,000 ETH Into Ethereum Staking Contracts

BitMine staked 342,560 ETH in two days leading up to Sunday, blockchain analytics from Lookonchain confirmed. This volume makes it one of the year’s largest short-term ETH staking inflows by a corporate entity.

Tom Lee(@fundstrat)'s #Bitmine continues moving $ETH into staking.

Over the past 2 days, #Bitmine has staked 342,560 $ETH($1B).https://t.co/P684j5YQaGhttps://t.co/pXHT9mCPUC pic.twitter.com/0Y9XBShQzI

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 28, 2025

The company completed these transactions just as Ethereum’s staking system showed expanding entry queues. Validator data now shows the entry queue at 12 days and 20 hours due to the rapid staking activity. Meanwhile, the exit queue stood at six days and two hours, creating a clear gap between inflows and outflows.

This pattern indicates that more validators aim to enter than exit, reinforcing long-term positions on the network. Such dynamics remove ETH from circulation, reducing supply available on exchanges. “Large-scale staking reduces the tradable supply of ETH,” said one blockchain analyst on X.

Validator Queue Imbalance Hints at Market Tightening

Ethereum’s entry validator queue now holds 739,824 ETH waiting to be staked, further delaying new participation. At the same time, the exit queue contains about 349,867 ETH lined up for withdrawal.

This imbalance means staking demand has nearly doubled exit interest, indicating structural commitment by validators. BitMine’s move contributes heavily to this pressure, altering the pace of ETH liquidity cycles.

ETH must pass through an exit queue before becoming tradable again after staking. Hence, large-scale staking affects ETH availability during both quiet and active market periods. This setup is increasingly influencing short-term ETH market behavior.

BitMine Increases ETH Holdings as Price Remains Below $3K

BitMine continues to accumulate ETH as prices trade below $3,000, pushing long-term treasury positioning. The company now holds approximately 4.07 million ETH, according to StrategicEthReserve.xyz.

That represents around 3.36% of Ethereum’s total supply, consolidating BitMine’s position as a major ETH holder. Its current stake is worth roughly $12.15 billion based on current exchange rates.

BitMine has declared a long-term target of reaching 5% ownership of the total ethereum supply. This suggests the company may continue staking as prices remain relatively stable.

Ethereum now has about 35.8 million ETH staked, nearly 28.88% of its total supply. EIP-1559’s burn mechanism and slowed issuance continue to reduce the new supply available for trading.

BitMine’s recent staking wave comes as validator interest remains strong, shifting the Ethereum supply landscape. The firm’s aggressive action underscores a structural move into yield-bearing crypto assets through staking.