Activity on rollups and other Layer 2 (L2) networks has surged to new all-time highs, surpassing Ethereum transactions by more than 4.5 times. This significant increase in traffic on L2 chains indicates a permanent shift towards more scalable blockchain solutions.
Leading the pack in L2 chains are Base, Arbitrum, and Optimism, attracting over 4.5 times the traffic of Ethereum. On Ethereum’s main Layer 1 chain, transactions have stabilized around 1.16 million, with a focus on high-value stablecoin transfers, ETH movements, and a decrease in swaps and NFT activities.
The growth in L2 activity can be largely attributed to Base, with other top chains also contributing a substantial baseline of transactions. DeFi activity and liquidity from stablecoins have become concentrated in Arbitrum and a select few top chains, attracting users for more seamless DEX swaps.
As a result, L2 activity has been consistently setting new records. Weekly L2 activity recently surpassed the milestone of 10 million users, compared to just 1.96 million for Ethereum on a weekly basis.
While Base remains a frontrunner in high-speed transactions, a portion of the traffic is linked to organic DEX trading and DeFi lending on other prominent L2 chains. Base has also seen a significant increase in CbBTC traffic and has accumulated a value locked of $3.49 billion.
Stablecoins have played a pivotal role in driving L2 adoption, with L2 networks holding over $11 billion in bridged or native stablecoins at the beginning of 2025. Arbitrum leads the pack with $6.35 billion in stablecoins, followed by Base with $3.5 billion.
The growth trajectory of L2 chains is heavily influenced by specialized activities on each chain. Linea focuses on NFT swaps and decentralized social media, Optimism serves as a versatile utility chain, and ZKSync Era dominates in simple token transfers.
The surge in L2 traffic has led to increased fees and competition for block space. L2 operators are now facing higher costs, with regular spikes in rent paid to Ethereum. This shift in dynamics has made L2 transactions more expensive, albeit still cheaper than Ethereum transactions.
Overall, L2 chains continue to demonstrate real economic activity and strong demand, with 127 high-profile chains launched to cater to various niche or mass activities. The future of blockchain scalability appears to be firmly rooted in the growth and innovation of Layer 2 networks.