Ethereum ETH coin on green stock chart graph background, close-up. Source: FellowNeko - stock.adobe.com

Key Takeaways:

Vitalik Buterin defended Ethereum’s 45-day staking exit queue, comparing staking to a “solemn duty” and arguing that friction in exiting helps secure the network.
Galaxy Digital’s criticism, led by its DeFi head Michael Marcantonio, sparked backlash from the Ethereum community and highlighted the firm’s growing ties to Solana.
Ethereum maintains over 1 million validators and nearly 30% of ETH staked, with exit queues high due to recent exploits and rising institutional demand.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has defended the network’s 45-day staking exit queue, following criticism from Galaxy Digital’s head of DeFi, Michael Marcantonio.

Marcantonio, who compared Ethereum unfavorably to Solana’s two-day unstaking process, questioned Ethereum’s suitability for global markets before deleting his posts.

Ethereum Staking Exit Queue is going parabolic. pic.twitter.com/UlQ6agpVrr
— CryptoGoos (@crypto_goos) September 16, 2025

Buterin responded by framing staking as a solemn duty, comparing it to a soldier’s commitment, and argued that friction is necessary to maintain network security.

He acknowledged the system isn’t perfect but warned that reducing the exit period could compromise reliability for validators with inconsistent uptime.

It's more like a soldier deciding to quit the army.

Staking is about taking on a solemn duty to defend the chain. Friction in quitting is part of the deal. An army cannot hold together if any percent of it can suddenly leave at any time.

That's not to say that the current…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) September 17, 2025

Ethereum currently has over one million active validators and 35.6 million ETH staked – about 30% of total supply.

The dispute has sparked wider community reactions: Ethereum advocates accused Marcantonio of spreading “FUD”, while Solana supporters defended Galaxy.

The tension is underscored by Galaxy’s heavy involvement in Solana, including a $1.5 billion SOL purchase and being the first Nasdaq-listed company to tokenize shares on Solana.

Despite slight easing, Ethereum’s exit queue remains at 2.5 million ETH, while the staking entry queue has surged to a two-year high of 512,000 ETH, driven by growing institutional demand.