Ethereum’s Staking Vault Holds Half Its Supply-But Is It a Treasure or a Trap?

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Ethereum’s proof-of-stake contract address now holds over half of the Ether supply “for the first time in the coin’s eleven-year history,” reported on-chain analytics provider Santiment on Wednesday. A feat so remarkable, one might think the blockchain itself has finally learned the art of patience-though it’s likely just a very serious vault.

This appears somewhat misleading, as approximately 37 million ETH are currently staked, representing approximately 30% of the total supply of 121.4 million tokens. However, Santiment explained that there is often confusion about how the proof-of-stake address works. It described the address as a “one-way vault that temporarily locks ETH to help secure the network.” A one-way vault, no less-a marvel of modern finance, where coins vanish like a magician’s rabbit and never return, unless you’re very, very patient.

“When someone stakes ETH, it gets sent into this contract and is removed from normal circulation, meaning it cannot be spent or traded while it is staked.”

Different Methods Of Counting Supply

When validators leave and withdraw, the Ether is released back into circulation as newly issued coins on Ethereum’s main network, “rather than being pulled back out of the vault itself,” Santiment explained. A delightful paradox, where the vault’s contents grow not by taking from itself, but by minting new coins-like a alchemist who turns lead into gold, only to forget he already had the gold.

“As a result, the existing supply can often differ based on whether only pre-burned or total post-burned coins are being counted.”

So over time, the “vault” accumulates ETH without it easily flowing back out the same way it went in, making the contract’s share of the current supply appear larger. This results in a calculation of 50.18% based on ETH issued historically before burns. Santiment predicted that this figure will increase, especially during bear markets and poor trading conditions. A perfect scenario for those who enjoy watching their investments languish in a state of perpetual stasis.

“As staking continues to increase in popularity, expect that this address will continue its ascension, particularly when trading slows down during bear cycles.”

BREAKING: Ethereum’s proof-of-stake contract address now holds over half of Ethereum’s supply for the first time in the coin’s 11-year history.

There is often confusion about how this proof-of-stake address works. Think of it as a one-way vault that temporarily locks $ETH…

– Santiment (@santimentfeed) February 17, 2026

Regardless of what figure is taken, the demand for staking has surged, and the percentage of ETH supply staked is at record highs. A testament to humanity’s enduring love affair with risk, patience, and the occasional cryptographic puzzle.

Additionally, the validator entry queue is also around record highs, with around 3.9 million ETH waiting to be staked, and the wait time is 67 days. A queue so long, it could make a Victorian parlor seem lively.

Meanwhile, the exit queue has dropped to its lowest ever levels with around 11,500 ETH and less than five hours wait. A rare instance where the exit is faster than the entry-proof that even in blockchain, some things move swiftly, if only in reverse.

Ether Price at Bear Market Lows

Panic selling by retail traders has pushed Ether prices to bear market lows below $2,000. ETH touched this psychological level briefly in late Tuesday trading, but again was beaten back by resistance, falling to $1,970 during the Wednesday morning session in Asia. A price so low, it’s practically a discount on digital assets.

“Ethereum isn’t expensive right now, it’s boring,” said analyst Merlijn The Trader before adding, “boring is where positions are built.” A sentiment as sharp as a well-tailored waistcoat and as profound as a Victorian novel’s closing line.

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2026-02-18 10:40