The Ethereum ecosystem has recorded its highest-ever number of active addresses, hitting 15.4 million in a single week. The surge is largely driven by activity on Layer 2 chains like Base and Unichain.
Layer 2 Networks Account for Majority of Ethereum Activity
According to on-chain data shared by analyst Leon Waidmann, Ethereum-compatible chains saw a 62.7% week-over-week jump in active addresses. Layer 2 networks now handle 6.65 times more transactions than the Ethereum Mainnet.
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Ethereum’s modular design pushes most user activity onto Layer 2 chains while using the Mainnet primarily for settlement, allowing the ecosystem to scale without compromising security.
Unichain and Base Outpace Ethereum Mainnet in User Growth
Among all the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains tracked, Unichain reported the highest number of active addresses at 5.8 million. This figure accounts for 39.26% of the total and is notable given that Unichain is only two months old.
Base, another Layer 2 chain developed by Coinbase, followed closely with 4.76 million active users, or 32.21% of the total. Both chains outpaced Ethereum Mainnet, which recorded 2.06 million active addresses, representing 13.94% of ecosystem activity.
These figures demonstrate the accelerating shift from Ethereum Mainnet to Layer 2 alternatives. Users seek faster transactions and reduced fees, which these networks are designed to provide.
Cross-Chain Activity Signals Growing Interoperability
In addition to user growth, the ecosystem is becoming more interconnected. OP Mainnet led all chains in cross-chain activity, with 42.2% of its addresses interacting across multiple chains. Arbitrum One followed with 29.6%, and Gravity and Ink recorded over 25% each.
The data highlights Ethereum’s successful strategy in scaling through modular architecture. Rather than upgrading the base layer alone, Ethereum has enabled a thriving ecosystem of Layer 2 networks to share the workload.
These developments support Ethereum’s long-term vision of becoming a scalable and decentralized global settlement layer. The rise of emerging chains like Soneium, Gravity, and Taiko Alethia suggests ongoing innovation and diversification in the space.
Critics Question Reliability of Metrics
While the figures are notable, some market observers have raised concerns about the quality and implications of the data. William Peets commented that the 62% surge in active addresses is unlikely to be entirely organic.
“I think the Ethereum ecosystem is in good shape,” Peets said. “But presenting these types of stats as evidence of anything just reduces credibility.”
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Other community members echoed the skepticism, arguing that “active addresses” may not be a reliable indicator of meaningful user growth. One commenter noted, “Active addresses is a horrible metric. I don’t believe it in Solana, and I don’t believe it in Ethereum.”
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