Who’s winning the user war? The top 10 fastest-growing blockchains of 2025
In the fast-changing world of blockchain, 2025 was a big year. The industry is growing because people are using it and new technology is making it better. New networks are constantly being created, competing with well-known ones for people’s attention. But the big question remains: are these platforms really being used by more and more people, or is all this just a lot of fuss about nothing?
This year, the success of the project will depend on how many users there are. These networks are competing to attract millions of new users by offering low transaction costs, seamless integration with mainstream platforms, and flourishing decentralised finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystems.
In this report, we dive into the top 10 fastest-growing blockchains, ranked by their surge in active users.
Our ranking approach
The most important thing for us is how many people use the site regularly. For each blockchain, we’ll explain if it’s an L1 (a basic network with its own system for agreeing on information, like Ethereum) or an L2 (a solution built on top of an L1 to improve how well it can handle a lot of information and reduce costs, like Polygon). We’ll also look at the specific measurements that explain their rise, the main things that are helping them grow, and the special problems they have.
When we say “active users”, we mean unique wallet addresses that have done at least one transaction. We also mention “Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV),” which is the theoretical total market value of a cryptocurrency if all its tokens were in circulation at the current price. This is a way to see how much a project could be worth.
The top 10 fastest-growing blockchains
- Solana
- Type: L1 blockchain known for its high speed.
- Key stats: 57 million monthly active users; $107.2 billion FDV; $284.2 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Solana’s expansion is largely fueled by its vibrant DeFi and NFT scenes, a significant increase in high-frequency memecoin trading, and improved reliability thanks to its Firedancer validator client, alongside rising institutional adoption.
- Challenges: Despite its speed, Solana has faced criticism for past network outages affecting reliability and concerns about its level of centralization. It also contends with intense competition from L2 solutions.
- Did you know? Solana’s unique “proof-of-history” consensus mechanism allows it to process thousands of transactions per second, making it ideal for fast-paced DeFi, NFTs, and even memecoin trading.
- Near Protocol
- Type: L1 blockchain utilizing a thresholded proof-of-stake (TPoS) consensus.
- Key stats: 51.2 million monthly active addresses; $3.1 billion FDV; $7.8 million 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Its integration of AI-native features for decentralized applications, low transaction fees (which are carbon neutral!), and strategic partnerships like with EigenLayer for rapid finality are all driving forces. Its ecosystem in DeFi and gaming is also expanding.
- Challenges: Near faces stiff competition from even faster L1s and L2s, and its token price can be volatile despite user growth. The complexity of its sharding technology could also pose vulnerabilities.
- Did you know? Near Protocol prides itself on being carbon neutral with remarkably low fees, showcasing strong momentum even amidst fierce competition.
- BNB Chain
- Type: Binance-backed L1 blockchain.
- Key stats: 46.4 million monthly active addresses; $121.2 billion FDV; $56.1 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Significant drivers include a reduced block time of just 0.75 seconds and new AI integrations designed to enhance data ownership.
- Challenges: It often faces centralization concerns due to its strong backing from Binance and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
- Base
- Type: Ethereum L2 blockchain, developed by Coinbase.
- Key stats: 21.5 million monthly active addresses; $2.92 billion FDV.
- Why it’s growing: Its ultra-low transaction fees (averaging around $0.01), leveraging Coinbase’s massive user base (over 100 million users) for easy onboarding, stablecoin liquidity, and partnerships for consumer DApps are all major contributors.
- Challenges: High activity can lead to network congestion. It also relies on Ethereum for security and faces the typical regulatory hurdles of a newer ecosystem.
- Tron
- Type: High-throughput L1 blockchain.
- Key stats: 14.4 million monthly active addresses; $33.5 billion FDV; $51.7 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Tron’s appeal comes from its negligible transaction fees, integrations with AI and cross-chain capabilities, and notable partnerships, such as with Rumble Cloud.
- Challenges: Similar to other large chains, it’s subject to regulatory scrutiny and faces centralization risks.
- Bitcoin
- Type: The original decentralized cryptocurrency (L1).
- Key stats: 10.8 million monthly active addresses; $2.3 trillion FDV; $1.3 trillion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: A huge driver has been institutional inflows via exchange-traded funds (ETFs); by late 2024, professional investors with over $100 million under management held $27.4 billion in Bitcoin ETFs. Reduced supply from halving events and its increasing adoption as a strategic reserve asset also contribute.
- Challenges: Concerns about its high energy consumption persist, and its value remains susceptible to volatility driven by macroeconomic factors.
- Aptos
- Type: L1 blockchain built by former Meta engineers.
- Key stats: 10 million monthly active addresses; $5.3 billion FDV; $13 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Its impressive peak transaction speed (19,200 TPS), use of the secure Move language for contracts, and significant partnerships (like Tether’s USDt launch on its network) are key growth factors.
- Challenges: Aptos is still working to achieve broader adoption and faces fierce competition from more established L1s.
- Ethereum
- Type: The leading L1 blockchain for smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs.
- Key stats: 9.6 million monthly active addresses; $522.7 billion FDV; $1.1 trillion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: The Pectra upgrade promises better user experience and scalability, while increasing ETF inflows and institutional staking are also bolstering its standing.
- Challenges: Ethereum still grapples with scalability issues and higher transaction fees compared to some rivals, alongside ongoing regulatory pressures.
- Polygon
- Type: Multichain scaling solution for Ethereum (L2).
- Key stats: 7.2 million monthly active addresses; $2.6 billion FDV; $4.2 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Upgrades like Heimdall v2, which enhances interoperability, and strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies are significant drivers.
- Challenges: Polygon faces regulatory scrutiny under frameworks like Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) and intense competition from other L2 solutions.
- Did you know? The Heimdall v2 upgrade has significantly boosted interoperability across chains, solidifying Polygon’s role as a vital multichain scaling hub in the Web3 ecosystem.
- Arbitrum One
- Type: A prominent Ethereum L2 solution.
- Key stats: 4 million monthly active addresses; $5.1 billion FDV; $14.3 billion 30-day token trading volume.
- Why it’s growing: Key drivers include integrations with major platforms like Robinhood for tokenized assets and upgrades like Stylus, which aims for even lower transaction fees.
- Challenges: It remains dependent on the Ethereum mainnet for security, deals with regulatory uncertainty, and is in direct competition with other L2s like Optimism.
Underlying trends fueling blockchain’s rise
The story of blockchain in 2025 is one of accelerating adoption, propelled by both new technologies and increasing mainstream acceptance. Here are some of the most noticeable trends shaping this growth across both L1s and L2s:
- Stablecoin boom: The widespread use of stablecoins like USDT and USDC is significantly boosting transaction volumes, enhancing liquidity and user engagement across various blockchain ecosystems.
- Layer-2 scalability: Scaling solutions such as Arbitrum One and Base are dramatically improving Ethereum’s transaction capacity while slashing fees, sometimes to as little as $0.01 per transaction. This makes decentralized applications far more affordable and accessible for everyday users.
- DeFi and NFT magnetism: Decentralized finance protocols and NFT marketplaces continue to draw in millions of new users. Innovative services like GMX on Arbitrum and the substantial NFT trading volume on Polygon ($227 million in Q1 2025) highlight their appeal for financial tools and digital collectibles.
- Mainstream integration: Blockchains are experiencing exponential growth by integrating directly with major platforms. For instance, Base’s direct integration into Coinbase provides it access to over 100 million potential users.
- Institutional embrace: Growing institutional involvement is lending immense legitimacy to blockchain technology. Bitcoin ETFs alone saw $36.4 billion in inflows in 2024. Furthermore, corporate partnerships with blockchain networks are enhancing credibility – consider how Starbucks partnered with Microsoft and the Azure blockchain network for a traceability system.
The road ahead: growth, challenges, and innovation
The impressive growth of these top 10 blockchains in 2025 underscores the expanding influence of decentralized technology. Networks like Solana and Arbitrum are leading this charge by offering low-cost transactions, innovative DeFi applications, and crucial mainstream integrations.
However, the journey isn’t without its hurdles:
- Inflated metrics: The challenge of bot activity and inactive wallet addresses can sometimes overstate true user growth.
- Scalability vs. decentralization: Some high-speed networks face a trade-off, potentially compromising on decentralization to achieve higher transaction speeds.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Ongoing scrutiny, particularly concerning stablecoins and illicit activities, continues to pose adoption risks.
- Market competition: The industry is marked by intense rivalry among L1 chains and between the various L2 solutions built on Ethereum.
In response, blockchain projects are actively innovating with better bot detection, enhanced scaling solutions, robust regulatory compliance efforts, and unique offerings such as AI integration and asset tokenization. These proactive measures are absolutely crucial for sustaining long-term growth and ultimately shaping the future trajectory of the entire blockchain ecosystem.
