The waiting list for new Ethereum validators is now the longest since early October, CoinDesk reported. Although the yield on staking ether remains below 4%, the renewed interest in staking is worth noting. The number of validators seeking to stake ether (ETH) has surged, with the so-called validator entry queue having jumped to 7,045, the highest level since October 6, according to data source ValidatorQueue. The waiting list represents more than 225,000 ether ($562 million) and is expected to be cleared within 48 hours. Ethereum limits the number of new validators that can join the network per epoch, which has led to the backlog. The length of an Ethereum epoch is 6.4 minutes. Validators are entities that stake at least 32 ether in the network to participate in running the Ethereum proof-of-stake consensus blockchain. In exchange for staking ether, they receive a steady rate of return similar to interest income on fixed-income instruments such as bonds. “The resurgence in Ethereum staking activity shows early signs of renewed vitality," David Lawant, head of research at FalconX institutional crypto exchange, said in an email on Friday. Lawant added that the renewed rise in activation queues is noteworthy because the annualized percentage yield on staked ether has barely improved. CoinDesk's composite ether staking rate has hovered between 3.5% and 4% for the fourth consecutive month, offering little premium to the risk-free yield of 4.17% on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond.