Ethereum’s Layer 2 solutions are becoming essential as user demand and transaction volumes surged sharply in 2023. With rising gas fees and congestion on Ethereum’s mainnet, L2s offer a clear path to faster, cheaper transactions, attracting more users and developers.

In 2025, certain Layer 2s are pulling ahead, demonstrating strong user growth and increasing Total Value Locked (TVL). Networks like Arbitrum and Optimism lead with robust ecosystems and high throughput, while Polygon continues to excel with its scaling technologies. This post breaks down which L2s are gathering momentum, why they matter to founders and investors, and what recent data reveals about their traction.

Top L2s Setting the Pace: Who’s Winning User Adoption?

Layer 2 solutions are no longer just theoretical fixes; they actively shape how users interact with Ethereum and other blockchains today. But with multiple L2s competing for attention, which networks are actually drawing in the most users? Understanding this offers insight into where developers and projects focus their efforts to build real-world applications.

User adoption depends heavily on transaction costs, speed, and ecosystem vitality. While many L2s promise scalability, only a few deliver the balance needed to attract sustained activity. Here’s a look at the leading Layer 2s setting the pace in 2025.

Arbitrum: The Dominant Optimistic Rollup

Arbitrum holds a commanding lead in user adoption among Optimistic Rollups. It combines:

  • High throughput with up to ~4,000 transactions per second
  • Gas fees slashed by up to 95% compared to Ethereum mainnet
  • A rapidly growing dApp ecosystem spanning DeFi, gaming, and NFTs

What makes Arbitrum stand out is its developer-friendly environment and focus on compatibility with existing Ethereum tooling. This ease invites projects to migrate or launch new protocols without significant rework. Arbitrum’s ability to handle complex smart contracts with minimal cost attracts both users and liquidity.

Optimism: Steady Growth Fueled by Innovators

Often seen as Arbitrum’s closest competitor, Optimism continues gaining users steadily. Its streamlined design and full EVM equivalence simplify porting Ethereum projects.

Optimism's recent network upgrades also sped up transaction finality and cut withdrawal times, addressing one key user pain point. Plus, strong funding and partnerships ensure fresh projects keep launching on its network. The question is whether Optimism’s growth can catch or surpass Arbitrum’s momentum in 2025.

Polygon: Scaling Beyond Ethereum

Polygon offers a different approach as a hybrid sidechain and modular scaling solution. It combines:

  • Extremely high throughput (up to 65,000 TPS)
  • Independent security through its own validator set
  • Support for varied L2 solutions and rollups inside its ecosystem

Polygon’s flexibility appeals to developers needing speed and reduced fees, especially for gaming and NFT platforms. It remains popular with users who want a familiar, low-cost experience without dealing with Ethereum’s congestion. However, Polygon’s security model differs from pure rollups, which some users weigh carefully when deciding where to allocate value.

zkSync and StarkNet: Rising ZK-Rollup Contenders

Zero-knowledge rollups are gaining traction, especially among users prioritizing speed and privacy. zkSync and StarkNet lead this category by offering near-instant settlement and minimal fees.

  • zkSync emphasizes user-friendly wallets and instant transfers that rival centralized exchanges.
  • StarkNet focuses on high-complexity dApps with robust security guarantees.

These protocols address questions users ask around transaction finality and trust, offering a compelling alternative to Optimistic Rollups. Watching how their ecosystems expand in 2025 will clarify how many users prefer zero-knowledge proofs for scaling.

Lightning Network: Bitcoin’s Layer 2 Champion

While Ethereum dominates L2 attention, Bitcoin’s Lightning Network remains the top solution for ultra-fast, low-cost BTC payments. Its widespread node network allows users to transact instantly with minimal fees, fueling adoption for microtransactions and retail use.

Questions like, Can Bitcoin’s Layer 2 support real-time dApps? and Will Lightning integration improve ease of use? remain. But current data shows growing liquidity and number of active nodes, signaling durable user interest.

These top L2s highlight how different technical paths appeal to various user needs. Whether it's an Optimistic Rollup’s developer-friendly setup, Polygon’s throughput, zkRollups’ speed, or Lightning’s Bitcoin compatibility, user adoption reflects where utility meets ease.

Examining these trends clarifies where founders and investors should look next. How will these networks handle scaling challenges amid increasing demand? Which features will users value most in 2025? The race for mass adoption is well underway, and the winners are defining what Ethereum and crypto will look like beyond the bottlenecks.

Rising Challengers: Fastest-Growing Newcomers

As the Layer 2 landscape matures, new challengers are making significant headway, grabbing attention with rapid user growth and innovative approaches. These newcomers may not yet have the name recognition of Arbitrum or Optimism, but their gains deserve a closer look. They bring fresh technology, novel features, or target niches that established L2s have yet to fully address.

These fastest-growing Layer 2s reflect broader shifts in user preferences and developer priorities. For anyone building or investing in Web3, understanding who is gaining momentum now helps anticipate the next phase of ecosystem growth.

Shibarium: The Meme Meets Scalability

Shibarium has quickly risen from the Shiba Inu fandom to become a serious Layer 2 contender. Designed to drastically reduce gas fees and speed up transactions for Shiba Inu’s vibrant community, it has attracted thousands of new users in a short span.

Its focus on community-driven growth and low fees appeals to NFT enthusiasts and DeFi users eager for high throughput without breaking the bank. What sets Shibarium apart isn’t just its technical specs but the strong social momentum driving adoption. It shows how aligned user bases and token ecosystems can propel an L2 beyond pure tech specs.

Immutable X: Born for NFTs and Gaming

Immutable X stands out as a Layer 2 targeting NFT marketplaces and gaming dApps. Its zero gas fees for NFT minting and transfers attract creators and collectors alike. Blockchain gaming, which demands fast and cheap transactions to keep users engaged, benefits greatly from Immutable X’s scalability.

The question many ask here is how quickly Immutable X can expand beyond niche NFT use cases into broader DeFi or multi-chain applications. Its growth, however, signals strong demand for L2s tailored to Web3’s cultural segments rather than general DeFi.

Scroll: zkRollup Rising Star

Among ZK-Rollup newcomers, Scroll has gained attention by combining full Ethereum compatibility with zero-knowledge proofs for fast, low-cost transactions. Scroll’s focus on security and scalability appeals to developers who want the speed of zkRollups but also the freedom to run complex smart contracts.

Scroll’s adoption curve is steepening as more projects test its environment. It’s a network to watch for those asking, Which ZK-Rollup will finally break out at scale this year?

StarkNet: Advancing zkRollup Complexity

While StarkNet has existed for some time, its latest upgrades in 2025 have fueled rapid user growth, particularly around programmable DeFi protocols and sophisticated dApps. The platform’s backbone of validity proofs offers near-instant, trustless transaction finality.

StarkNet’s growing ecosystem highlights an important point: users and builders want both security and flexibility. As it attracts complex app developers, StarkNet challenges the Optimistic Rollups’ hold on DeFi and beyond.

Metis And Other Emerging Sidechains

Metis and a handful of other newer sidechains are carving out space by focusing on scalable DAO infrastructure and business applications. Their rapid user gains point to a growing interest in Layer 2 environments optimized for enterprise-grade solutions and collaboration tools.

These Layer 2s provide alternatives to more generalized networks by creating specialized communities and developer services. Builders asking, Where should I launch a DAO or Web3 business? may find answers here.

The surge of these rising challengers proves that Layer 2 adoption isn’t a simple race. Different user groups have distinct needs, from cheaper NFTs and gaming to advanced DeFi and enterprise-focused dApps. Understanding this diversity helps spot where innovation is happening beyond the big names.

Are these newcomers disrupting the old order? Or will they eventually fold into larger Layer 2 ecosystems? Watching how their user bases evolve will reveal which models sustain growth and which fade.

Why Users Migrate: Key Drivers Behind L2 Surge

As Ethereum and other blockchains scale up, users are increasingly turning to Layer 2 (L2) solutions to handle daily transactions and complex applications. But what exactly pushes users away from Layer 1 (L1) networks and into L2 environments? The answer comes down to practical needs around speed, cost, and ease of use. Migrating to L2 has become a natural choice rather than just an option for many.

Understanding these drivers helps clarify why some Layer 2s attract more users than others. Functional advantages plus real-world usability shape user decisions. Let’s explore the key reasons behind the surge in L2 adoption.

Transaction Costs: The Price of Staying on L1

Gas fees remain the biggest pain point for users on Ethereum mainnet. When the network gets busy, average transaction fees can spike to several dollars or even tens of dollars. For many, this makes simple transfers, NFT minting, or DeFi trades prohibitively expensive.

Layer 2 solutions typically reduce these fees by 90% or more. The difference is striking: a transaction on L2 often costs just a few cents or fractions of a cent. This alone motivates users to migrate, especially for activities requiring multiple or small transactions.

  • Lower fees free users from worrying about transaction costs eating into profits.
  • It supports greater experimentation, such as interacting with new dApps or gaming platforms.
  • Micropayments and NFT trading, impossible at high L1 gas costs, become feasible.

Transaction Speed: Cutting Wait Times Drastically

Mainnet transactions can take anywhere from 15 seconds to several minutes to confirm, depending on congestion. This delay frustrates users who expect instant or near-instant response times. Speed matters especially in gaming, decentralized finance, and real-time applications.

Layer 2s batch large numbers of transactions off-chain and post summaries on the main chain. This process boosts throughput to thousands of transactions per second, offering instant or near-instant finality in many cases.

  • Users experience fast interactions similar to traditional apps.
  • Developers can design more complex, interactive dApps without holding users hostage to slow block times.
  • Real-time use cases like trading and gaming become realistic.

Security with Scalability: Trust Without Trade-offs

Many users worry about trading off security when moving to L2. The best Layer 2s inherit Ethereum’s security guarantees by settling final transaction states on the mainnet. Optimistic Rollups and Zero-Knowledge Rollups use cryptographic proofs and economic incentives to secure the network efficiently.

By moving critical validation off-chain but anchoring results on L1, users get strong security with much higher transaction volume.

This balance reassures users migrating assets and sensitive transactions onto L2 platforms.

Expanding Ecosystems and User Experience

Users don’t migrate just for raw performance. They want thriving ecosystems where they can access a variety of dApps, from DeFi to gaming and NFTs. Networks like Arbitrum and Optimism have seen big user growth because their ecosystems attract projects and liquidity.

Improved wallets, bridges, and developer tools have also simplified the migration process, reducing friction. For many users, easy onboarding and compatibility with familiar Ethereum tools drive adoption.

Targeted Use Cases: Serving Specific Communities

Certain L2s attract users by focusing on niche sectors or communities. For example:

  • Gaming-focused L2s offer wallet integrations and zero gas fees optimized for fast action.
  • NFT-centric L2s allow large-scale minting and trading at low cost.
  • DAO-centric chains attract collective governance platforms with cheap, fast voting.

This focus draws users whose needs aren’t fully met by general-purpose Layer 1 solutions.

Final Thoughts on the Surge

Layer 2 adoption is driven by a combination of reduced cost, faster transactions, security guarantees, and richer ecosystems. For anyone wondering why users make the move to L2, the answer lies in getting a better practical experience without giving up trust or flexibility.

This migration trend is only growing as networks improve cross-chain compatibility and build more polished ecosystems, helping L2 solutions gain ground as the everyday blockchain layer for millions.

Ecosystem Momentum: Developer and Institutional Interest

Layer 2 solutions are no longer experimental add-ons—they are becoming the foundation of Ethereum's next chapter. The increasing scale of user adoption goes hand in hand with expanding developer activity and growing institutional involvement. This ecosystem momentum fuels a cycle where more developers build, which attracts users, which in turn draws more institutions and capital. Let’s break down why developer interest and institutional commitment are key drivers behind the rise of specific L2 platforms in 2025.

Developer Activity: The Pulse of Growing Ecosystems

Developers are the lifeblood of any blockchain ecosystem. In 2025, we see unprecedented levels of developer engagement on major Layer 2s, marking a clear shift toward scalability-first development.

  • Cross-chain interoperability and tooling have matured, enabling developers to deploy applications on multiple L2s with minimal friction. For example, Polygon’s AggLayer framework and Optimism’s robust SDKs simplify launching projects that can move fluidly across networks.
  • ZK-Rollups and Optimistic Rollups each attract different developer profiles and use cases. zkSync Era and StarkNet appeal to teams prioritizing privacy and throughput, while Arbitrum and Optimism attract DeFi-focused teams emphasizing composability and fast iteration.
  • Daily active developer counts on networks like Arbitrum and Base have reached all-time highs, with thousands of commits, audits, and protocol upgrades pushing ecosystem evolution rapidly.
  • The rise of microtransaction capabilities and tiered on-chain subscriptions open new business models, enticing developers focused on NFT games, social tokens, and DeFi revenue streams.

Developers choose L2s that strike the right balance between security, performance, and user base. This explains why Layer 2 networks with strong developer communities see exponential user growth—and vice versa.

Institutional Adoption: From Experimentation to Integration

Institutional interest in Layer 2 networks has moved well beyond pilot programs and initial experiments. In 2025, these networks underpin growing volumes of tokenized assets, stablecoins, and DeFi products that meet compliance requirements and security audits demanded by traditional finance.

  • Institutions are using Layer 2 platforms like Polygon zkEVM and zkSync Era for issuing tokenized bonds, real-world assets (RWAs), and regulated digital funds. These use cases require scalable, secure infrastructures that L2s provide.
  • Major financial firms and asset managers have launched crypto-backed lending and trading desks using Layer 2 to avoid costly on-chain gas fees and latency.
  • Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum L2, has drawn significant institutional capital because of its native integration with Coinbase’s ecosystem and strong security practices, spurring large liquidity pools and capital inflows.
  • Layer 2 TVL (Total Value Locked) has surpassed several billion dollars, with a significant share coming from institutional players seeking scalable settlements without compromising Ethereum’s security.

This move by institutions confirms Layer 2’s potential as an infrastructure backbone for enterprise-grade blockchain applications. It raises the question: How will regulatory clarity shape institutional uptake in the coming years?

Why Does Ecosystem Momentum Matter?

Ecosystem momentum reflects the synergy between developer innovation and institutional trust. The Layer 2 platforms that sustain this momentum through continuous improvements, vibrant communities, and regulatory compliance are those gaining the most users.

  • More developers mean more diverse applications—from gaming and NFTs to DeFi and enterprise finance.
  • Greater institutional participation increases liquidity and user confidence, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.
  • Strong ecosystems reduce fragmentation, allowing users to benefit from lower fees, faster transactions, and richer experiences.

This momentum leads to an environment where users don’t just come for low costs—they stay for the broad range of services and the long-term viability of the platform.

Understanding this dynamic helps explain why certain Layer 2s have surged ahead in user metrics and Total Value Locked. It’s not just about technology but about building networks that attract builders, investors, and users all at once.

The developer and institutional focus on Layer 2 ecosystems is shaping the future of Ethereum scalability. This growing interest reinforces the value proposition Layer 2s offer—efficiency, security, and expanded utility—that continues to drive wider adoption in 2025 and beyond.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for L2 User Growth?

As we move through 2025, the Layer 2 space is expanding rapidly, but what exactly should we expect next for user growth? The momentum seen so far is unlikely to slow down, yet the shape of growth will depend on several factors that influence the network’s appeal beyond just technical specs. Understanding these can help founders, investors, and builders anticipate where users will head next, and which L2s are positioned to attract the most activity.

User growth is becoming more nuanced, shaped by innovations in scalability, ecosystem building, and real-world use cases. Below, we explore the main trends and challenges that will define L2 user adoption in the coming months and years.

Continued Surge From Lower Transaction Costs and Enhanced UX

One obvious growth driver remains the drastic reduction of transaction fees. Today’s users expect blockchain interactions to cost pennies or less, not dollars in gas fees. Layer 2s that can maintain or reduce these costs will continue to pull new users in large numbers.

But it’s not just about price. User experience improvements—such as faster withdrawal times, smoother cross-chain bridges, and wallet integrations—will also boost adoption. Projects that remove friction and simplify onboarding will convert curious explorers into consistent users.

Expect to see:

  • More meta-transactions and “gasless” features to shield users from complexity.
  • Wallets with better support for Layer 2 chains out of the box.
  • Enhanced bridges with lower failure rates and instant transfers.

User retention will hinge on how easy Layer 2s make the transition from Layer 1 or other blockchain networks.

Growth Fueled by Real-World Applications Across Sectors

The next wave of user growth will come from broader adoption of real-world applications built on Layer 2. DeFi activities remain important, but NFTs, gaming, decentralized identity, and Web3 social platforms are gaining traction.

The appeal of Layer 2s goes beyond cost and speed—it’s about enabling new use cases that are impossible or prohibitively expensive on Layer 1. For instance:

  • Gaming platforms on Layer 2 are drawing players by offering near-instant trades, low-cost asset minting, and complex interactions.
  • NFT marketplaces demand scalable environments to handle high volume drops and transactions.
  • DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure networks) projects are emerging, relying on L2 to handle massive microtransactions for IoT and data services.

Will Layer 2 networks move beyond finance to become the backbone for everyday Web3 utilities? The answer lies in how well they support these diverse new apps.

ZK-Rollups and Interoperability Driving the Next Phase of Expansion

ZK-Rollups are primed for a jump in user numbers. Their cryptographic proofs enable fast, secure, and trustless transactions, which appeals to users who prioritize privacy and security.

Polygon zkEVM, StarkNet, and zkSync are leading this front with upgraded protocols that combine compatibility with Ethereum tools and improved throughput. Expect these zk-Rollups to capture users looking for a more secure scaling solution.

At the same time, interoperability among Layer 2s and Layer 1 chains is maturing quickly. Projects are building bridges and unified experiences allowing users to move assets and applications fluidly across networks.

Imagine a “Superchain” where users interact with multiple L2s seamlessly, choosing the best network for each task without worrying about token bridges or layered complexity. This kind of ecosystem-driven growth will attract users who want both flexibility and specialization.

Institutional and Developer Influence on User Growth Patterns

Institutional adoption will broaden as more regulated products and tokenized assets appear on Layer 2. These introduce larger capital flows, which both support liquidity and bring new types of users, like traders, investors, and enterprises.

On the developer side, tools and frameworks are improving, reducing time to market for new dApps. This helps Layer 2s build deeper ecosystems fast, a key factor users care about since more dApps mean more reasons to stay.

Networks that successfully deepen both developer engagement and institutional trust will see more vibrant, active user communities.

Questions to Watch Moving Forward

  • How will Layer 2s improve cross-network asset portability to reduce user friction?
  • Which L2s will handily support the rise of decentralized apps outside of finance, such as gaming or real-world infrastructure?
  • To what extent will zk-Rollup networks capture users looking for stronger privacy and security guarantees?
  • Can Layer 2s maintain ultra-low fees without sacrificing security or decentralization?
  • Will new onboarding flows make L2 adoption so easy that mass market users start using Ethereum-based dApps daily?

User growth on Layer 2 is poised to accelerate along multiple fronts—not just through better technology but through richer ecosystems, broader applications, and smoother user experiences. Watching how these factors play out tells us more about who will lead Ethereum’s scaling future.

Conclusion

Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and the growing class of zk-Rollups like zkSync and StarkNet are leading the way in user adoption thanks to their mix of low fees, fast transactions, and expanding ecosystems. Their growth shows that practical performance combined with developer-friendly tools and community support drives real user engagement.

Newcomers like Shibarium and Immutable X prove targeted use cases can quickly attract vibrant user bases, while Bitcoin’s Lightning Network continues to scale payments with broad reach. For founders and investors, tracking user numbers alongside TVL offers critical insight into which platforms are building sustainable, liquid ecosystems.

The users migrating to these Layer 2s seek not just cheaper and faster transactions but also security and rich application variety. Watching how these networks evolve in technology and partnerships will reveal which L2s shape the future of scalable blockchain beyond Ethereum’s bottlenecks.

As Layer 2 adoption grows, those who understand user trends and ecosystem momentum will be best positioned to build or back the next wave of scalable Web3 innovation. Your next step: monitor how these metrics shift this year to identify emerging leaders early.