MetaMask Staking Update: Validator Exits Push Ethereum’s Exit Queue to a 2026 High
MetaMask Staking‘s infrastructure security incident is now producing a measurable network-level effect on Ethereum’s validator queues. Ethereums exit queue rose from roughly: 166,000 ETH on September 29 to a 2026 peak around: 850,000–851,000 ETH on October 2 after MetaMask began precautionary validator exits. By October 5, public queue readings still showed roughly: 767,000–786,000 ETH waiting to exit, with an estimated delay of around: 13–14 daysThe queue is falling, but remains historically high The exit backlog has started to decline from the October 2 peak. That is consistent with validators gradually passing through Ethereums churn limits. It does not mean the MetaMask incident is fully resolved.Entry queue is even larger At the same time, roughly: 1.44–1.5 million ETH was waiting to enter staking on October 5. Estimated entry wait: about 25 days This matters because exited MetaMask-operated ETH is expected to be re-entered/reallocated over time, and the large entry queue lengthens the full round trip.Lidos official timeline Lido says the final affected MetaMask-operated validators are expected to: exit, but not necessarily be fully withdrawn, by the end of October 7. The complete: exit → withdrawal → re-entry cycle can take up to approximately: 45 days because of the extended entry queue.No action required for stETH holders Lido continues to say: no action is required from stETH holders. The protocol expects exited ETH to return gradually. The event can reduce reward
