Ethereum staking nears 40M ETH locked with 96,000 new validators joining in 2026.

Ethereum's proof-of-stake network has seen significant growth in 2026, with over 4 million new ETH staked, pushing the total locked ETH to nearly 40 million. The number of validators increased by about 96,000, reflecting strong demand for staking rewards. Liquid staking protocols, led by Lido Finance controlling over 60% of the market, continue to dominate, offering flexible options for ETH holders. Despite issuing substantial validator rewards, Ethereum remains mildly inflationary due to low network activity, but this could shift if transaction demand rises.