Your Guide to Top Layer 1 Networks Worth Tracking Into 2025

Understanding the Foundation: What Makes Layer 1 Networks Critical

Layer 1 networks form the backbone of blockchain ecosystems. These base layer blockchains process and finalize transactions independently, unlike Layer 2 solutions that build on top of existing networks. What sets them apart? Their built-in consensus mechanisms ensure security and decentralization without relying on external systems.

Every Layer 1 has its own rules—some use Proof of Work, others Proof of Stake. Each comes with native tokens that fuel their economies through transaction fees, staking rewards, and governance rights. This independence is their greatest strength: they offer transparency, immutability, and true decentralization.

Why Layer 1 Networks Stand Out in 2025

The advantages are clear. Layer 1 networks enjoy strong network effects—more users mean more value. They support native tokens that have real utility within their ecosystems. Developers get a flexible foundation to build decentralized applications, while users benefit from direct participation in governance. Though Layer 2 solutions help with congestion, they ultimately depend on Layer 1 for final settlement and security.

Essential Layer 1 Projects to Monitor

Bitcoin (BTC): The Original and Still Going Strong

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $1.74 trillion
• Price: $86,950
• 1-Year Performance: -12.55%

Bitcoin needs no introduction. As the first decentralized digital currency, it remains the most recognized and widely adopted crypto asset globally. Its appeal lies in its proven security architecture, limited supply of 21 million coins, and role as “digital gold.”

The Bitcoin ecosystem has evolved dramatically. The introduction of Ordinals unlocked NFT capabilities directly on the blockchain. Sidechains and Layer 2 solutions like Stacks now enable smart contracts and DeFi applications. Derivative protocols utilizing satoshis (Bitcoin’s smallest unit) opened new possibilities for tokenization. The Taproot Assets protocol showcased Bitcoin’s versatility beyond simple payments.

Ethereum (ETH): The Developer’s Powerhouse

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $351.66 billion
• Price: $2,910
• 1-Year Performance: -16.63%

Ethereum continues to dominate with the largest developer community and over 3,000 active decentralized applications. Since Vitalik Buterin launched it in 2015, it’s transformed from a currency platform into the backbone of DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 innovation.

The ongoing Ethereum 2.0 upgrades focus on scalability through rollups and other Layer 2 solutions, which have dramatically reduced transaction fees. The shift to Proof of Stake decreased environmental impact. Layer 2 protocols now handle the bulk of transaction volume while inheriting Ethereum’s security, creating a synergistic relationship that strengthens the entire ecosystem.

Solana (SOL): Speed Meets Efficiency

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $68.44 billion
• Price: $121.64
• 1-Year Performance: -38.41%

Solana’s Proof of History consensus mechanism combined with Proof of Stake delivers remarkable transaction speeds and minimal fees. This combination made it the go-to platform for high-frequency trading and gaming dApps.

The ecosystem flourished with developer tools and community incentives. The Firedancer validator upgrade promises even higher throughput. Over 2,000 nodes ensure decentralization while Solana Mobile Saga created hardware integration opportunities. From Marinade Finance’s liquid staking to Jupiter’s routing solutions, the ecosystem demonstrates robust financial infrastructure.

BNB Chain (BNB): The Exchange-Backed Alternative

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $114.28 billion
• Price: $829.70
• 1-Year Performance: +18.12%

BNB Chain (formerly Binance Smart Chain) launched in 2020 as a high-performance alternative to Ethereum. Its dual-chain architecture with Binance Chain enables seamless asset transfers across networks. With over 1,300 active dApps, it offers faster and cheaper transactions than Ethereum while maintaining EVM compatibility.

2023 saw a formal rebranding emphasizing independence from the exchange itself, plus significant infrastructure improvements including separate PoS chains for staking and expanded cross-chain bridges. The ecosystem now rivals many Layer 1 networks in depth and diversity.

Avalanche (AVAX): Finality in Seconds

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $5.24 billion
• Price: $12.20
• 1-Year Performance: -69.69%

Avalanche’s unique consensus combining Classical and Nakamoto protocols achieves transaction finality in under two seconds. This speed advantage attracted traders and builders seeking rapid settlement.

In 2023, the network processed record transaction volumes with 3.07 million daily transactions. The explosion in inscription-related activity (over 50% of transactions) demonstrated the network’s capacity. Transaction fees hit $13.8 million in just five days due to high demand, proving the network’s popularity despite cost spikes.

The Open Network (TON): Telegram’s Bet on Decentralization

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $3.72 billion
• Price: $1.52
• 1-Year Performance: -74.52%

Originally conceptualized by Telegram founders, TON developed into a truly decentralized network after the TON Foundation took over. Its multi-level sharding structure handles massive transaction volumes efficiently.

The 2024 game-changer came when Telegram announced it would distribute 50% of advertising revenue to channel owners via TON blockchain payments in Toncoin. This partnership surged the token 40% and created real-world utility. With a potential Telegram IPO on the horizon, TON’s integration into one of the world’s largest messaging platforms could fundamentally reshape its value proposition.

Sui (SUI): Move Language Innovation

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $5.16 billion
• Price: $1.38
• 1-Year Performance: -69.33%

Sui pioneered use of the Move programming language for safer smart contract development. Its parallel execution engine processes transactions simultaneously, dramatically improving throughput while keeping costs low.

Post-mainnet launch, Sui recorded 65.8 million transactions in a single day with TVL reaching $188 million. The zkLogin feature revolutionized user access by enabling Web 2 social login integration with enhanced privacy. Strategic programs like TurboStar on Turbos DEX provided fundraising support for ecosystem projects.

Polkadot (DOT): The Interoperability Pioneer

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $9.6 billion (historical)
• 1-Year Performance: -0.39% (historical)

Polkadot’s true innovation lies in connecting independent blockchains while letting each maintain sovereignty. The Inter-Chain Communication protocol enables seamless value and data transfer.

Developer activity surged with nearly 19,000 GitHub contributions in March 2023. The introduction of Nomination Pools increased staking participation by 49%. Polkadot 2.0 promises enhanced scalability and governance. Notable integrations of USDC and infrastructure upgrades position it as a hub for institutional participation.

Cosmos (ATOM): Building the Interchain

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $971.76 million
• Price: $2.00
• 1-Year Performance: -71.17%

Cosmos takes a modular approach to blockchain development. The Inter-Blockchain Communication protocol allows specialized chains to maintain independence while interoperating freely.

2023 brought Interchain Security protecting smaller networks and Interchain Accounts enabling sophisticated cross-chain interactions. Daily transaction volume reached 500,000 with ATOM maintaining 20 million in daily trading volume. The Cosmos Hub 2.0 white paper outlines an ambitious evolution for the ecosystem.

Internet Computer (ICP): Computing on Blockchain

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $1.61 billion
• Price: $2.95
• 1-Year Performance: -73.61%

Internet Computer reimagines blockchain’s potential by hosting entire applications on-chain rather than just financial contracts. Its Canisters can make secure HTTPS calls to Web 2.0 services, creating hybrid applications.

Websockets enable real-time interactive dApps. Direct Bitcoin integration bypassed intermediaries for seamless cross-chain operations. The Service Nervous System democratized DAO governance with permissionless token issuance. Growing NFT and social platform projects demonstrate organic ecosystem expansion.

Kaspa (KAS): DAG Technology Leader

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $1.19 billion
• Price: $0.04
• 1-Year Performance: -62.82%

Kaspa uses GHOSTDAG consensus and Dag Knight protocol for rapid transaction processing. The transition from GoLang to Rust unleashed modern hardware potential, enabling unprecedented throughput.

The network processes multiple blocks simultaneously with instant finality, differentiating it from traditional linear blockchains. High-performance mobile wallet development addressed user accessibility. Plans focus on establishing Kaspa as a fast, scalable smart contract platform for DeFi and dApps.

Sei (SEI): Built for Trading

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $705.58 million
• Price: $0.11
• 1-Year Performance: -76.11%

Sei specializes in DeFi, specifically optimizing for decentralized exchanges. Its native matching engine reduces latency—a critical advantage for traders.

The Sei Ecosystem Fund ballooned to $120 million, supporting NFTs, gaming, and DeFi projects. Strategic focus on Asian markets leveraged regional crypto sophistication. Chain-level optimizations made Sei the platform of choice for developers building trading applications.

ZetaChain (ZETA): True Omnichain Vision

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $78.90 million
• Price: $0.07
• 1-Year Performance: -89.05%

ZetaChain aims to solve fragmentation by becoming the first truly omnichain Layer 1, enabling seamless interactions across any blockchain architecture. Omnichain smart contracts can execute across different networks without intermediaries.

Since launching in March 2023, the ecosystem exploded: over 1 million testnet users from 100+ countries, 6.3 million cross-chain transactions, and 200+ deployed dApps. Partnerships with Ankr Protocol, BYTE CITY, and Ultiverse extended ZetaChain into infrastructure, social entertainment, and gaming.

Aptos (APT): Scalability Through Parallel Processing

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $3.8 billion (historical)
• 1-Year Performance: -27% (historical)

Aptos combines the Move language with parallel transaction execution for unmatched scalability. The approach processes independent transactions simultaneously, maximizing throughput.

With over $400 million in funding from Tiger Global and PayPal Ventures, Aptos attracted serious developer attention. TVL exceeded $85 million, driven by Sushi integration, Coinbase Pay partnerships, and Microsoft collaboration on gaming and entertainment applications.

Kava (KAVA): Cosmos Meets EVM

Current Metrics:

• Market Cap: $80.98 million
• Price: $0.07
• 1-Year Performance: -84.39%

Kava bridges Cosmos and Ethereum ecosystems through its co-chain architecture. Over 110 active dApps tap Kava’s speed and low fees while maintaining EVM compatibility.

The Kava 14 upgrade enabled direct USDt minting on Cosmos. Tokenomics 2.0 transitioned to fixed KAVA supply, emphasizing scarcity. A community-controlled Strategic Vault with $300+ million in assets deepens decentralization.

The Symbiotic Relationship: Layer 1 and Layer 2

While Layer 2 solutions excel at performance and cost reduction, they ultimately depend on Layer 1 for security and finality. This interdependence drives continuous innovation across both layers. Improvements in Layer 1—like Ethereum’s sharding proposals—enhance Layer 2 capabilities. Successful Layer 2 solutions inform Layer 1 design decisions.

This dual-layer development model ensures blockchains evolve to meet diverse needs: Layer 1 provides the secure, decentralized foundation while Layer 2 delivers scalability and speed. As mainstream adoption accelerates, this balance becomes increasingly critical.

Looking Forward Into 2025

The Layer 1 landscape continues maturing. Bitcoin strengthens its position as digital gold with expanding smart contract capabilities. Ethereum solidifies its developer ecosystem dominance. Emerging networks like ZetaChain and TON introduce fresh approaches to old problems.

Each Layer 1 network examined here brings unique strengths—from Bitcoin’s security to Solana’s speed, from Ethereum’s network effects to ZetaChain’s interoperability. The diversity itself represents blockchain’s strength: multiple solutions coexisting and improving through competition.

As you evaluate Layer 1 networks, consider your priorities: speed, security, ecosystem maturity, or innovative features. The best network choice depends entirely on your needs and vision for participating in Web3.