Ethereum Foundation completes 70,000 ETH staking target, ending years of sell pressure

The Ethereum Foundation completed its 70,000 ETH staking target on April 3, 2026, with a $93 million final deposit, bringing total staked value to $143 million at approximately $2,059 per ETH. The initiative, announced in February 2026 and powered by Bitwise Onchain Solutions infrastructure, will generate $3.9-$5.4 million annually in staking yield, replacing the need to sell roughly 2,600 ETH per year and covering about 5% of the foundation's $100 million annual budget. The move addresses longstanding community criticism of the foundation's practice of selling ETH to fund operations, following treasury policy reforms in June 2025 that capped spending at 15% of treasury value and required a 2.5-year reserve buffer. The foundation still holds over 100,000 unstaked ETH, which if fully staked could generate approximately $13 million in annual yield.

Ethereum Foundation's 70,000 ETH staking program completion

• ▪The Ethereum Foundation staked approximately $93 million in ETH across several transactions on April 3, 2026.
• ▪The Ethereum Foundation staked $46 million worth of ETH on March 30, 2026.
• ▪The Ethereum Foundation's 70,000 ETH staking target was worth approximately $143 million at prices near $2,059 per ETH.

Governance conflicts of interest from Foundation staking revenue

• ▪The Ethereum Foundation's June 2025 treasury policy committed to reducing annual expenses linearly over five years toward a 5% baseline.
• ▪The Ethereum Foundation's June 2025 treasury policy capped annual operational spending at 15% of treasury value.

Comparison with other crypto foundation sustainability models

• ▪Solana Foundation Delegation Program delegations accounted for roughly 5.9% of total staked SOL as of late 2025.

Financial impact and future treasury management decisions

• ▪The Ethereum Foundation's $5.4 million in annual staking yield covers roughly 5% of the Ethereum Foundation's $100 million annual budget.

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