• Over 54.6 million ETH are now staked, demonstrating growing user participation and rewards seeking.
• Nearly 10% of staked ETH is now restaked, allowing users to earn additional rewards.
• Bernstein predicts potential SEC approval for staking yields in US spot Ethereum ETFs, boosting interest.

Ethereum staking skyrocketed this year, with over 54.6 million ETH currently locked up in staking contracts. This marks a significant increase from the beginning of the year and highlights the growing popularity of staking as a way to earn rewards and participate in the ETH network.

IntoTheBlock’s data showcases the steady uptrend in the cumulative amount of ETH sent to staking over the past 12 months. The steady increase underscores the growing confidence and participation of users in the Ethereum staking ecosystem.

Furthermore, the emergence of ETH restaking has added another layer of complexity and opportunity to the staking landscape. Restaking involves staking staked ETH, allowing users to earn additional rewards on their initial stake. Currently, restaking accounts for nearly 10% of the total staked ETH, demonstrating its rapid adoption and potential for further growth.

This trend towards restaking is driven by several factors, including the desire to maximize returns and the increasing sophistication of staking strategies. As the Ethereum network continues to evolve and new opportunities arise, it is expected that restaking will play an even more prominent role in the future of Ethereum staking.

Recently, Bernstein, a research and brokerage firm, is optimistic of a potential approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the staking yield of the blockchain exchange-traded fund (ETF).

According to the firm’s analysts, staking yields are expected to be approved for spot Ethereum ETFs in the US under President-elect Donald Trump. In the experts’ view, this would be one of the four factors propelling the resurgence of interest in the asset.

In the United States, adopting Ethereum ETF staking has encountered regulatory hurdles, with the SEC classifying staking services as unregistered securities offerings. Whereas in Europe, companies like CoinShares and Bitwise are already benefiting from staking rewards at more affordable rates, demonstrating the model’s viability.

Additionally, analysts have also acknowledged ETH’s struggles as a store of value compared to bitcoin, as well as the increasing competition from other faster Layer 1 blockchains such as Solana (SOL), Sui, and Aptos (APT). However, Bernstein expert Gautam Chhugani suggests that ETH’s risk-reward currently looks attractive.