MetaMask Says It Began Validator Exits as a Security Precaution

On Sept. 30, MetaMask said it was exiting affected validators as a precaution while responding to a security incident, and that it had identified no immediate threat to its wallets.

An on-chain estimate counted 16,965 MetaMask-run validators holding 565,056 Ether (ETH) as exited or in Ethereum’s exit queue at 1:29 a.m. ET (05:29 UTC) Oct. 1. MetaMask has not confirmed that tally.

MetaMask said the incident affected part of its infrastructure. It has not publicly detailed the cause or identified the systems involved.

The estimate captures validators that had exited or were waiting to exit; it does not establish how the incident affected customer wallets or funds. MetaMask describes its staking service as non-custodial: customers retain control of their staked funds, and the company does not manage their withdrawal keys.