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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has finally spoken out about the growing noise around the network’s staking exit queue. The waiting period now stretches up to 45 days.
The Spark of Controversy
Galaxy Digital’s DeFi head Michael Marcantonio called the delay “troubling.” He compared it to Solana, where users can unstake in just two days. His posts caused a stir before being deleted.
Marcantonio wrote: “Unclear how a network that takes 45 days to return assets can serve as a candidate for global markets.”
Vitalik’s Response
Buterin pushed back, saying unstaking is more like a soldier leaving the army. He explained that staking is not just parking coins—it’s a duty to secure the chain.
“An army cannot hold together if people can suddenly leave at any moment,” he added.
Ethereum remains strong with over 1 million active validators and more than 35 million ETH staked, roughly 30% of supply.
Security vs. Convenience
Vitalik admitted the system isn’t perfect. But lowering the exit time would weaken trust in validators who don’t always stay online.
Meanwhile, Galaxy Digital has been deepening ties with Solana, investing $1.5 billion alongside Multicoin Capital and Jump Crypto.
Fighting the FUD
After backlash, Marcantonio’s posts vanished. Ethereum supporters slammed Galaxy Digital for spreading fear. Some even vowed to cut business ties.
Crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro joked that deleting the tweets only made Ethereum look stronger. Ethereum educator Anthony Sassano said Galaxy’s DeFi lead “doesn’t understand the basics.”
Solana advocates, however, backed Galaxy, arguing that their track record with Solana proves they can deliver value.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the drama, Ethereum’s ecosystem remains robust. The exit queue recently fell to 2.5 million ETH, much of it linked to Kiln Finance after a hack.
At the same time, 512,000 ETH are in the entry queue—marking a two-year high as institutions increase their stakes.
