The Ethereum Foundation unstaked 17,035 ETH, worth roughly $40 million, shortly after nearing its stated goal of 70,000 staked ETH. Data from Arkham shows the foundation moved wrapped staked ETH into Lido’s contract, initiating a withdrawal. The move has prompted speculation about potential selling, while the foundation’s large-scale staking has previously raised governance concerns.
The Ethereum Foundation has moved to unwind part of its staking position, unstaking 17,035.326 ETH worth roughly $40 million. Arkham data indicates the funds were deposited into Lido’s unstETH contract and will be returned after the withdrawal queue completes.
The foundation has not revealed why it unstaked the 17,000 ETH, leading some users to speculate it could be preparing to sell. “The biggest seller of ETH continues to be the people who created ETH,” one user wrote.
The EF began staking ETH after updating its policy in June 2025 to help fund protocol research and development. It had steadily expanded its position, staking around 69,500 ETH earlier this month, just shy of its 70,000 ETH target.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has cautioned that large-scale staking by the foundation could complicate neutrality during potential contentious hard forks. This concern highlights ongoing governance risks associated with major stakeholders.
Separately, decentralized finance protocols have united to stabilize rsETH after a $293 million exploit on the Kelp restaking platform. The coordinated “DeFi United” effort, led by Aave with participation from Lido DAO and others, has seen over $101 million pledged to address the market disruption.
