Ethereum price gears up for rally ahead of ETH token unlock and “re-staking” narrative


  • Ethereum token unlock is near with the Shapella hard fork scheduled for April 12, re-staking platforms and banks are rolling out their announcements. 
  • Nearly 15% of Ethereum’s total supply is currently staked, making it one of the lowest staked assets among competitors. 
  • Ethereum “re-staking” could ease the pressure of a sell-off and keep the blue-chip digital asset’s circulating supply relatively low. 

Ethereum token unlock is drawing close with the upcoming Shanghai hard fork, also known as Shapella. Currently, nearly 15% of the asset’s supply is staked, lower than its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) competitor blockchains. Prior to token unlock, projects and institutions have announced “re-staking” solutions for Ethereum, and this is expected to ease the selling pressure from ETH withdrawals. 

Also read: Ethereum holders prepare for Shanghai hard fork, will Ethereum token unlock be delayed?

Ethereum “re-staking” can ease selling pressure on ETH

Ethereum token unlock is a key event for the altcoin’s community as stakers will have access to their staked ETH for the first time since December 2020. However, given that the altcoin’s price is over 60% away from its all-time high and nearly 15% of the supply is staked, less than most other PoS blockchains experts believe the community is looking for “re-staking” opportunities.

Several firms have lined up their services for “re-staking” the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Experts on crypto Twitter believe Ethereum validators who staked ETH in the ETH2 deposit contract are maximalists, or believers in the altcoin's technology. This makes it less likely that validators sell their partially or completely withdrawn ETH tokens on exchanges. "Re-staking" and the Liquid Staking Derivatives narrative therefore poses a superior alternative to shedding ETH holdings across exchanges.

Will re-staking emerge as a driver that pushes ETH to $2,000?

Re-staking ensures that unstaked ETH does not flood crypto exchanges, in turn easing the selling pressure. At the same time, re-staking combined with ETH burn, contributes to Ethereum turning deflationary over time. Re-staking of the altcoin could therefore emerge as a bullish driver for Ethereum and act as a catalyst that pushes ETH closer to its bullish target of $2,000. 

ETH total value staked

ETH total value staked

Interestingly, closer to the date of ETH token unlock with the Shapella upgrade, there is a spike in Ethereum tokens staked on the deposit contract, based on data from crypto intelligence tracker CryptoQuant. This reveals an interest from the ETH holder community, in staking the asset and pulling the altcoin out of its circulating supply.


Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended Content

Editors’ Picks

Bitcoin holds $84,000 despite Fed’s hawkish remarks and spot ETFs outflows

Bitcoin holds $84,000 despite Fed’s hawkish remarks and spot ETFs outflows

Bitcoin is stabilizing around $84,000 at the time of writing on Thursday after facing multiple rejections around the 200-day EMA at $85,000 since Saturday. Despite risk-off sentiment due to the hawkish remarks by the US Fed on Wednesday, BTC remains relatively stable.

More Bitcoin News
Crypto market cap fell more than 18% in Q1, wiping out $633.5 billion after Trump’s inauguration top

Crypto market cap fell more than 18% in Q1, wiping out $633.5 billion after Trump’s inauguration top

CoinGecko’s Q1 Crypto Industry Report highlights that the total crypto market capitalization fell by 18.6% in the first quarter, wiping out $633.5 billion after topping on January 18, just a couple of days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

More Cryptocurrencies News
Top meme coin gainers FARTCOIN, AIDOGE, and MEW as Trump coins litmus test US SEC ethics

Top meme coin gainers FARTCOIN, AIDOGE, and MEW as Trump coins litmus test US SEC ethics

Cryptocurrencies have been moving in lockstep since Monday, largely reflecting sentiment across global markets as United States (US) President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade wars take on new shapes and forms each passing day. 

More Cryptocurrencies News
XRP buoyant above $2 as court grants Ripple breathing space in SEC lawsuit

XRP buoyant above $2 as court grants Ripple breathing space in SEC lawsuit

A US appellate court temporarily paused the SEC-Ripple case for 60 days, holding the appeal in abeyance. The SEC is expected to file a status report by June 15, signaling a potential end to the four-year legal battle.

More Ripple News
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Market uncertainty lingers, Trump’s 90-day tariff pause sparks modest recovery

Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: Market uncertainty lingers, Trump’s 90-day tariff pause sparks modest recovery

Bitcoin (BTC) price extends recovery to around $82,500 on Friday after dumping to a new year-to-date low of $74,508 to start the week. Market uncertainty remains high, leading to a massive shakeout, with total liquidations hitting $2.18 billion across crypto markets.

Read full analysis
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD

SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.

Read More

BTC

ETH

XRP