Essential Insights
The expansion of blockchain in 2025 depends on actual usage and technological advancements rather than speculation or hype.
The primary metric is the number of active users as indicated by wallet addresses.
Growth is being influenced by DeFi, NFT ecosystems, and stablecoin adoption, attracting millions of new users.
Collaborations with major platforms and institutional capital influx via Bitcoin ETFs are speeding up adoption.
Networks continue to encounter issues such as inflated metrics, scalability challenges, regulatory scrutiny, and competition between L1 and L2 solutions.
The blockchain sector is rapidly evolving, with new networks emerging to contend with established players. But are these platforms genuinely achieving widespread utilization?
In 2025, blockchain advancement has been spurred by authentic user involvement and technological innovation, moving beyond mere speculation. From foundational layer-1 blockchains to efficient layer-2 solutions, networks are competing for millions of users through cost-effective transactions, seamless integrations with mainstream platforms, and vibrant decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystems.
This article evaluates the top 10 fastest-growing blockchains based on their active user expansion.
Ranking Criteria
The ranking of the top 10 fastest-growing blockchains of 2025 is primarily based on active user counts. Each entry will also specify whether the network is a layer 1 (L1) or layer 2 (L2), include the metrics fueling its rise, the central factors contributing to its growth, and the challenges it encounters.
For newcomers, L1 blockchains offer foundational infrastructure with their own consensus mechanisms, while L2 solutions aim to improve the scalability and cost-efficiency of L1 blockchains. For instance, Ethereum is categorized as an L1 blockchain, while Polygon is an L2.
The term “active users” signifies a unique wallet address that executes a transaction.
Fully diluted valuation (FDV) represents the theoretical total market worth of a cryptocurrency, assuming all tokens are available at the current price. This metric provides a larger perspective on a project’s potential value, aiding in the assessment of whether a token is overvalued or undervalued based on its total possible supply.
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Blockchains
1. Solana
Solana is a high-speed L1 blockchain that employs a proof-of-history (PoH) consensus mechanism, designed for scalable decentralized applications (DApps) and marketplaces.
Monthly active users: 57 million
FDV: $107.2 million
Token trading volume (30 days): $284.2 billion
Key drivers: Growth is powered by DeFi and NFTs, an influx in high-frequency trading of memecoins, and the Firedancer validator client enhancing reliability and institutional adoption.
Challenges: Previous network outages have impacted reliability, alongside concerns surrounding centralization and competition from L2 solutions.
Did you know? Solana’s proof-of-history allows it to process thousands of transactions each second, enabling DeFi, NFTs, and even memecoin trading at incredible speeds.
2. Near Protocol
Near Protocol is a layer-1 blockchain utilizing a thresholded proof-of-stake (TPoS) consensus, prioritizing scalability, user-friendly developer tools, and AI-native features for DApps.
Active addresses (monthly): 51.2 million
FDV: $3.1 million
Token trading volume (30 days): $7.8 million
Key drivers: AI integration for user-owned agents, low transaction fees coupled with carbon neutrality, collaborations like EigenLayer for rapid finality, and expansions in the DeFi and gaming sectors.
Challenges: Competition from quicker L1 and L2 solutions, price volatility despite user growth, and possible vulnerabilities in sharding complexity.
Did you know? Near Protocol is carbon neutral with low fees and has demonstrated substantial momentum, despite rivalry from quicker chains.
3. BNB Chain
Backed by Binance, BNB Chain is an L1 blockchain supporting DeFi, NFTs, and DApps with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility.
Active addresses (monthly): 46.4 million
FDV: $121.2 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $56.1 billion
Key drivers: A reduction in block time to 0.75 seconds and AI integrations focusing on data ownership.
Challenges: Concerns over centralization tied to Binance, along with regulatory scrutiny.
4. Base
Developed by Coinbase, Base is an Ethereum L2 blockchain utilizing optimistic rollups, prioritizing low-cost DeFi and seamless integration for consumer applications.
Active addresses (monthly): 21.5 million
FDV: $2.92 billion
Key drivers: Extremely low fees (averaging $0.01), Coinbase’s extensive user base of over 100 million, stablecoin flows, and partnerships tailored for consumer DApps.
Challenges: Potential congestion due to increased activity, reliance on Ethereum for security, and regulatory compliance issues as a newer ecosystem.
5. Tron
Tron is a high-throughput L1 blockchain focused on decentralized content sharing and emphasizes low-cost stablecoin transactions while integrating with Telegram.
Active addresses (monthly): 14.4 million
FDV: $33.5 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $51.7 billion
Key drivers: Minimal transaction fees, AI-driven cross-chain integrations, and partnerships such as Rumble Cloud.
Challenges: Regulatory oversight and centralization risks.
6. Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the original decentralized cryptocurrency using proof-of-work (PoW) consensus, serving as digital gold for value storage and payments.
Active addresses (monthly): 10.8 million
FDV: $2.3 trillion
Token trading volume (30 days): $1.3 trillion
Key drivers: Institutional funds flowing in via exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (As of Q4 2024, professional investors managing over $100 million hold Bitcoin ETFs valued at $27.4 billion.) A reduced supply due to halving events and the usage of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve.
Challenges: High energy consumption and volatility influenced by macroeconomic factors.
7. Aptos
Aptos is an L1 blockchain created by former Meta engineers utilizing the Move language, focusing on scalability, DeFi, and fostering developer growth for DApps.
Active addresses (monthly): 10 million
FDV: $5.3 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $13 billion
Key drivers: Peak performance of 19,200 TPS; secure contracts via the Move language; partnerships including Tether’s USDt (USDT) launch.
Challenges: Requires broader adoption and faces competition from established L1 networks.
8. Ethereum
Ethereum is a leading L1 blockchain for smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs, supported by a vast developer ecosystem utilizing proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus.
Active addresses (monthly): 9.6 million
FDV: $522.7 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $1.1 trillion
Key drivers: Pectra upgrade enhancing user experience and scalability, inflows from ETFs, and institutional staking initiatives.
Challenges: Scalability concerns, higher fees compared to competitors, and increased regulatory pressures.
9. Polygon
Polygon provides a multichain scaling solution for Ethereum through PoS, facilitating DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications with EVM compatibility.
Active addresses (monthly): 7.2 million
FDV: $2.6 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $4.2 billion
Key drivers: Upgrades like Heimdall v2 improving interoperability and collaborations with Fortune 500 firms.
Challenges: Regulatory scrutiny under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) directive and competition from other L2 solutions.
Did you know? The Polygon upgrade Heimdall v2 has greatly enhanced interoperability between chains, solidifying Polygon’s status as a multichain scaling hub in the web3 ecosystem.
10. Arbitrum One
Arbitrum One stands out as a prominent Ethereum L2 leveraging optimistic rollups to provide speedier, cost-effective transactions while maintaining Ethereum’s security.
Active addresses (monthly): 4 million
FDV: $5.1 billion
Token trading volume (30 days): $14.3 billion
Key drivers: Integrations like Robinhood for tokenized assets and enhancements like Stylus for reduced fees.
Challenges: Reliance on the Ethereum mainnet, regulatory vagueness, and competition from Optimism.
Trends Fueling Blockchain Growth
The narrative of blockchain in 2025 represents a fast-paced evolution. New technologies and mainstream acceptance are propelling growth at both the fundamental L1 and the scaling L2 levels. Prominent trends include:
Increased transaction volumes driven by stablecoin adoption: Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are significantly enhancing transaction activity, resulting in improved liquidity and user engagement across ecosystems.
Enhanced scalability and reduced costs through layer-2 solutions: Scaling solutions like Arbitrum One and Base are improving Ethereum’s transaction handling capacity and reducing fees to about $0.01 per transaction, making DApps more accessible and affordable.
DeFi and NFT ecosystems drawing new users: DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces are welcoming millions of new participants, with services like GMX on Arbitrum and Polygon’s NFT volume ($227 million in Q1 2025) providing innovative financial tools and digital collectibles.
Mainstream platform integrations: Blockchains are advancing through collaborations with established platforms. For example, Base is integrated within Coinbase, thereby accessing over 100 million potential users.
Growing institutional interest and partnerships: Increasing institutional engagement is enhancing the legitimacy of blockchain. Bitcoin ETFs attracted $36.4 billion in 2024. Corporate collaborations with blockchain networks are also aiding in credibility, as seen in Starbucks’ partnership with Microsoft and the Azure blockchain network to create a traceability system.
User Growth, Challenges, and Future Pathways
The swift growth of the top 10 blockchains by active users in 2025 underscores the expanding role of decentralized technologies. Networks like Solana and Arbitrum are leading this trailblazing effort through cost-effective transactions, DeFi applications, and mainstream collaborations.
Nonetheless, significant challenges persist:
Exaggerated metrics: Activity from bots and dormant addresses may inflate the perception of genuine user growth.
Balancing scalability and decentralization: Several high-speed networks compromise on decentralization.
Regulatory ambiguity: Increased scrutiny on stablecoins and illicit practices poses risks to adoption.
Intense market competition: There exists fierce competition among L1 chains and Ethereum’s L2 solutions.
In reaction, blockchain networks are innovating with superior bot detection, enhanced scaling mechanisms, regulatory compliance, and unique features like AI and asset tokenization. These initiatives are crucial for sustaining long-term development and shaping the future of the blockchain landscape.
This article does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trade entails risk, and readers should perform their own due diligence before making decisions.
