Ethereum and Solana Staking Hit Records as Yields Fall

Bitwise reported that Ethereum staking reached 43.8 million ETH at the end of the third quarter of 2026, a record representing about 35.9% of supply, even as annualized yields fell. The company’s quarterly figures also showed record Solana staking and rising network activity, alongside lower staking returns on both networks. Ethereum’s staked total increased by 1.99 million ETH during the quarter, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of net inflows. Bitwise said the average annualized staking yield declined to 2.63% from 2.81% in the second quarter. It attributed the drop to rewards being divided among a larger pool of staked ETH. Newly issued ETH accounted for more than 96% of Ethereum staking yield, according to the report. The remainder came from transaction tips and revenue associated with transaction ordering, known as maximal extractable value, or MEV. Ethereum network revenue was about $40.6 million in the third quarter, down from $63 million in the second, the report said. Solana’s active stake reached 440.5 million SOL, or 69% of supply, Bitwise reported. Gross staking yields fell by around 6%, with newly issued tokens making up 90% of returns. The network processed...