Ethereum staking has reached a significant milestone, with over 30% of its circulating supply now staked, according to ValidatorQueue data. This equates to $72 billion in staked Ether, despite the cryptocurrency's price dropping 60% from its August peak. Investors are also lining up an additional $8 billion worth of tokens in the validator queue, marking a record high. The surge in staking comes amid a broader crypto market downturn, which has seen the total market value drop by $2 trillion since October. Ethereum is currently trading around $2,000, significantly below its 2021 highs. Despite the price decline, major players like Bitmine have increased their staked holdings, with Bitmine recently adding $282 million worth of tokens, bringing its total to $6 billion. Prominent Ethereum backers, including co-founder Vitalik Buterin, have been selling tokens, citing the need to fund new initiatives. However, some investors remain optimistic, with Bitmine Chair Tom Lee predicting a "V-shaped recovery" for Ethereum prices. Goldman Sachs has also disclosed over $1 billion in Ethereum exposure through exchange-traded funds.