Ethereum staking has significantly changed how crypto investors earn yield, rather than leaving their holdings idle.
As a result, Ethereum developers have worked tirelessly to improve its ecosystem and security, and to make staking even more attractive.
The question is, what should you expect in 2026?
Fusaka upgrade activated
On the 3rd of December, Ethereum officially activated Fusaka, the network’s latest upgrade. While its implication may not be felt at the moment, its effects in 2026 could be massive.
For starters, Fusaka strengthens the existing architecture, paving the way for lower fees, scalability, and better performance.
For Ethereum users, whether through DeFi, staking, or other mechanisms, Fusaka makes the network more efficient and scalable.
PeerDAS and what it means for staking in 2026
The most important addition inside Fusaka was PeerDAS. It allowed validators to verify data availability through sampling instead of downloading full blobs.
That shift cut bandwidth needs by more than 85 percent and reduced resource pressure on smaller stakers.
That move aligned with Ethereum’s goal to expand individual participation. Based on current trends, individual stakers could rise from roughly 25% to 30% of total staked ETH in 2026.
Source: Dune
Institutional stakers might enjoy greater flexibility in their staking strategies, thereby boosting the amount staked by institutions while encouraging new institutions to join.
Coupled with that, the block gas limit will rise from 45 million to 60 million, allowing more transactions and improving throughput.
As a result, layer two transaction fees will drop by 40-60% making Ethereum accessible to all users and developers in equal measure.
When L2 transactions drop, more users increase network usage, leading to higher revenue for Ethereum. Increased revenue is bullish for stakers and validators alike.
In fact, stakers could see increased earnings in 2026 from L2 gas consumption. Simply more L2 usage means increased ETH burned, which is stronger economics for stakers.
As a result, Ethereum staking could become more lucrative and attractive in 2026, attracting more individual and institutional players.
Economics of ETH in 2026
As observed above, Ethereum [ETH] market conditions are expected to improve in 2026, with a more favorable staking environment.
With PeerDAS, revenue raised from increased L2 activity could be used to implement deflationary measures, especially ETH burns.
As a result, ETH sees reduced scarcity, which could accelerate upward pressure if demand rises. Therefore, into 2026, these market conditions position ETH for more gains.
Source: TradingView
Chart data showed bulls needed daily closes above $3.2k and $3.4k to confirm a trend reversal. A successful break could open a move toward $3.8k in early to mid-2026, based on Fibonacci Moving Averages.
Final Thoughts
- Ethereum activated the Fusaka upgrade, and its PeerDAS is expected to significantly affect staking.
- In 2026, reduced bandwidth could boost individual stakers from the current 25% to 30% of the total staked, while offering institutions stakers greater flexibility.