Ethereum turns 11: Will record 40.2M staked ETH fuel a rally?

Ethereum’s [$ETH] 11th anniversary is here, and everyone wants to come to the party. Many are choosing to buy $ETH, and more $ETH is locked in staking too.

Is this just a short-term buzz play, or the start of a big move up for the token?

Ethereum takes the spotlight

So far this week, BlackRock clients have recorded $60 million in net outflows from the company’s IBIT Bitcoin [BTC] ETF. Over the same period, they reportedly purchased more than $20 million worth of $ETH. The contrast between the two flows is hard to ignore.

Whale activity is adding to the story. A wallet identified as 0x2d59 recently withdrew 40,000 $ETH, worth approximately $76.58 million, from Binance.

Large exchange withdrawals are often viewed as a good indicator because the assets are moved away from trading. However, this wallet owner’s exact intention remains unknown.

Ethereum staking has also hit a new high. In Q2 2026, the amount of staked $ETH climbed to a record 40.2 million $ETH, around 33% of the total supply and worth over $63 billion.

Belief in Ethereum is growing among both large holders and those that are here for the long run.

11th anniversary increasing hopes of an $ETH rally?

Investors may be positioning for possible gains ahead of Ethereum’s 11th anniversary. None of the above numbers guarantees a rally, but their timing has certainly added to the bullish mood.

About the network’s progress over the years, Raj Karkara of ZebPay told AMBCrypto,

Ethereum has evolved from an ambitious vision of a programmable blockchain into the foundation of a thriving digital ecosystem.

He also believes the transition to Proof-of-Stake and scalability improvements have “strengthened the network’s long-term sustainability.”

The anniversary gives investors a reason to look beyond daily price movements and focus on Ethereum’s progress. If demand and staking continue to rise, the milestone could become more than a symbolic moment.

However, lasting gains will happen only if the pace continues long after the celebrations end.

Final Summary

• BlackRock clients added over $20 million in $ETH.
• Ethereum staking reached a record 40.2 million $ETH as well; whale activity added to hopes of an anniversary rally.