15 Must-Watch Layer-1 Blockchain Projects in 2025

Layer 1 blockchain networks form the backbone of the entire crypto ecosystem, handling transaction settlement and network security at the most fundamental level. As the foundational infrastructure of Web3, these networks continue to evolve, compete, and improve to address industry-wide challenges.

Understanding Layer-1 Blockchains: The Foundation of Crypto

What makes Layer-1 networks essential?

Layer 1 blockchain systems operate as independent, self-contained networks—they don’t rely on external layers for core functionality. Unlike Layer-2 solutions that build on top of existing chains to improve speed and reduce costs, Layer-1 protocols maintain their own consensus mechanisms, security models, and transaction finality.

These networks deliver several critical advantages:

• Decentralization & Security: No single entity controls the network; transactions are immutable and transparent
• Independent Operation: Process transactions and execute smart contracts without external dependencies
• Native Tokenomics: Each Layer-1 network typically features a native token that powers fees, staking, and governance
• Wide Adoption: Established networks benefit from strong network effects and broader integration
• Developer Foundation: Provide the secure base layer upon which Layer-2 solutions and decentralized applications depend

Layer-1 networks maintain greater resilience against congestion compared to their Layer-2 counterparts—the value and utility increase with more users and activity on the network.

The Top Layer-1 Projects Shaping 2025

Bitcoin (BTC): The Original Fortress

Current Metrics:

• Price: $88.87K (down 10.70% YoY)
• Market Cap: $1.77T
• TVL: $1.1B

Bitcoin remains crypto’s most recognizable asset since Satoshi Nakamoto’s 2009 launch. Its primary appeal lies in pioneering blockchain technology, unmatched security, and position as digital gold with a fixed 21-million supply.

The 2023-2024 period brought significant innovations to Bitcoin’s ecosystem. The Ordinals protocol enabled direct NFT minting on the Bitcoin blockchain, spawning projects like ORDI and SATS. Bitcoin Layer-2 solutions—including Stacks—emerged to enable smart contract functionality while preserving Bitcoin’s security guarantees. New derivative protocols like Atomicals and ARC20 utilize satoshis for token representation, and the Taproot Assets protocol from Lightning Labs expanded Bitcoin’s asset capabilities through UTXO scripts.

Recent developments underscore Bitcoin’s ongoing evolution beyond simple payments into a comprehensive digital asset platform.

Ethereum (ETH): The Smart Contract Ecosystem Leader

Current Metrics:

• Price: $2.97K (down 15.12% YoY)
• Market Cap: $358.87B
• TVL: $49B

Ethereum commands the largest developer community with over 3,000 active decentralized applications across DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and social domains. Since Vitalik Buterin’s 2015 launch, the network has transitioned from a simple digital currency platform into Web3’s foundational infrastructure.

The shift to Proof-of-Stake consensus and ongoing Layer-2 scaling solutions (particularly rollups) have been transformative. These upgrades reduced transaction costs while maintaining the security guarantees users expect. Looking into 2025, the Ethereum ecosystem continues refinement of Ethereum 2.0 benefits, with emphasis on scalability improvements and energy efficiency. Deeper Layer-2 integration and potential cross-chain interoperability enhancements promise a more connected, efficient ecosystem.

Solana (SOL): High-Speed Performance Champion

Current Metrics:

• Price: Variable (up 464% in prior period analysis)
• Market Cap: $61B (historical reference)
• TVL: $3.46B

Solana’s Proof of History combined with Proof of Stake consensus enables exceptional throughput and low transaction fees—making it the platform of choice for high-frequency DeFi, gaming, and NFT applications.

The ecosystem flourished in 2023 with the Solana Improvement Documents (SIMDs) formalizing protocol enhancements and the Firedancer validator upgrade promising dramatic speed increases. Ecosystem diversification accelerated through memecoin innovation (BONK airdrops), liquid staking platforms (Marinade Finance, Jito), and cross-chain bridges with Google Cloud and AWS. The Solana Saga smartphone launch with integrated BONK airdrops exemplified ecosystem momentum.

Solana’s developer incentive programs and robust validator network (2,000+ nodes) continue attracting project launches and user migration.

Binance Smart Chain / BNB Chain (BNB): The Exchange-Native Powerhouse

Current Metrics:

• Price: $841.10 (up 19.53% YoY)
• Market Cap: $115.85B
• TVL: $5.2B

BNB Chain (formerly Binance Smart Chain) leverages Binance’s massive ecosystem and exchange liquidity. The dual-chain architecture enables seamless asset transfers between chains, supporting 1,300+ active dApps across DeFi, NFTs, and gaming.

Launched in September 2020, BNB Chain offers faster, cheaper transactions than Ethereum through its PoSA consensus while maintaining EVM compatibility for existing Ethereum developers. The 2023 rebranding signaled expansion beyond exchange integration into broader DeFi and NFT development. New staking mechanics and cross-chain bridge improvements enhanced interoperability. 2024-2025 development focuses on Layer-2 scaling integration and additional sharding implementations to support ecosystem growth.

Avalanche (AVAX): Rapid Finality Leader

Current Metrics:

• Price: $12.44 (down 69.13% YoY)
• Market Cap: $5.34B
• TVL: $1.5B

Avalanche achieves transaction finality in under 2 seconds through its hybrid Classical-Nakamoto consensus mechanism—a significant advantage for applications requiring immediate settlement.

The C-Chain recorded 3.07 million transactions in 2023, with inscription-related activity comprising over 50% of all transactions. This surge drove transaction fees to $13.8 million over five days and created network congestion. The network processed 40+ transactions per second and set a single-day record of 2.3 million transactions. Strategic partnerships with J.P. Morgan’s Onyx blockchain validated Avalanche’s enterprise utility, while ecosystem expansion continued through DeFi protocol launches and institutional adoption signals.

Kaspa (KAS): DAG-Based Speed Innovation

Current Metrics:

• Price: $0.05 (down 62.09% YoY)
• Market Cap: $1.22B
• TVL: Not Available

Kaspa employs the novel GHOSTDAG consensus mechanism enabling rapid block processing and instant finality without the latency constraints of traditional architectures. The 2023 transition to Dag Knight consensus and Rust implementation optimized performance for modern hardware.

Development achievements included a high-performance mobile wallet launch, expanded P2P communication for archival nodes, and significantly increased block/transaction throughput. The ecosystem showed massive growth signals with KAS value appreciation exceeding 1,800% during 2023. Kaspa positions itself as a fast, scalable, PoW Layer-1 foundation for smart contracts and decentralized applications.

The Open Network (TON): Telegram’s Blockchain Evolution

Current Metrics:

• Price: $1.54 (down 74.11% YoY)
• Market Cap: $3.77B
• TVL: $145M

TON’s lineage traces to Telegram founders Nikolai and Pavel Durov before transitioning to the TON Foundation and independent developer community. The multi-chain sharding architecture manages high transaction volumes while the native Toncoin facilitates network transactions, governance, and staking.

The March 2024 announcement of Telegram’s 50% advertising revenue distribution through TON triggered a 40% Toncoin value surge—demonstrating real utility beyond speculation. Upcoming Telegram IPO could dramatically expand ecosystem utility if blockchain functionalities integrate more deeply with Telegram’s massive user base. Current ecosystem includes diverse dApps for social, DeFi, and NFT use cases.

Internet Computer (ICP): Decentralized Cloud Computing

Current Metrics:

• Price: $3.04 (down 72.78% YoY)
• Market Cap: $1.66B
• TVL: $88M

The DFINITY Foundation designed Internet Computer to host entire software systems and smart contracts on-chain—reinventing internet infrastructure as decentralized, serverless cloud computing.

2023 brought significant capability enhancements: Websockets enabled real-time interactive applications; expanded stable memory supported complex applications; secure HTTPS outcalls to Web 2.0 expanded smart contract capabilities; Bitcoin integration bypassed intermediaries for cross-chain transactions. The Service Nervous System enabled permissionless DAO token issuance, while Foundation grants stimulated ecosystem growth. Community-driven expansion in social platforms and NFT trading markets reflected organic ecosystem vitality.

Sui (SUI): Horizontal Scalability Focus

Current Metrics:

• Price: $1.40 (down 68.86% YoY)
• Market Cap: $5.24B
• TVL: $557M

Sui’s Move programming language and innovative consensus mechanism enable horizontal scalability—handling large transaction volumes at minimal cost. The mainnet launch and major exchange listings established market presence quickly.

Ecosystem developments included strategic token reallocation toward community and DeFi initiatives, achieving a single-day transaction record of 65.8 million and TVL peak of $188 million—ranking among top-10 blockchains by TVL. The zkLogin feature revolutionized dApp access through Web 2 social accounts with enhanced privacy. The TurboStar program on Turbos DEX accelerated ecosystem project growth through fundraising support and investor protections.

Aptos (APT): Parallel Execution Innovation

Current Metrics:

• Price: $1.69 (down 82.28% YoY)
• Market Cap: $1.27B
• TVL: $342M

Aptos emphasizes scalability, reliability, and usability through the Move programming language and highly efficient parallel execution engines that dramatically increase transaction speed and throughput.

Backed by $400+ million from Tiger Global, PayPal Ventures, and others, the ecosystem achieved $85+ million TVL with transaction frequency reaching hundreds of thousands daily. 2023 strategic expansions included Sushi integration for enhanced DeFi services, Coinbase Pay partnership for seamless Petra wallet transactions, and gaming collaborations with Microsoft, NEOWIZ, MARBLEX, and Lotte Group. The Digital Asset Standard for real-world applications and infrastructure improvements (Indexer for NFT notifications, MSafe multi-sig solutions) strengthened platform foundations.

Polkadot (DOT): Multi-Chain Interoperability Hub

Current Metrics:

• Price: $1.73 (down 76.95% YoY)
• Market Cap: $2.84B
• TVL: $230M

Polkadot enables trust-free value and message transfers between independent blockchains while maintaining their sovereign characteristics—true interoperability through its network of parachains.

The ecosystem generated 19,090 GitHub developer contributions in March 2023 alone, signaling robust development activity. Parathreads introduced cost-effective blockchain connectivity; Next-Generation Scheduling enhanced network scalability; and the announced Polkadot 2.0 promised scalability, governance, and interoperability upgrades. Staking participation surged 49% through Nomination Pools, broadening network security participation. Major integrations (Circle’s USDC, Rocco Testnet) and five new parachains expanded ecosystem breadth alongside institutional custody services (Zodia Custody).

Cosmos (ATOM): IBC Protocol Leadership

Current Metrics:

• Price: $2.03 (down 70.76% YoY)
• Market Cap: $984.34M
• TVL: $1.25M (CosmosHub)

Cosmos addresses scalability and interoperability through the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol—enabling different blockchains to interact and share data while maintaining sovereignty and security.

2023 saw Interchain Security deployment, strengthening smaller blockchain security within the ecosystem. The Cosmos Hub averaged 500,000 daily transactions and 20 million ATOM trading volume, reflecting rising adoption. Theta upgrade introduced Interchain Accounts; Rho upgrade added Liquid Staking and NFT modules. The Interchain Foundation’s $26.4 million 2024 allocation for Interchain Stack development and institutional investor enthusiasm (particularly around dYdX migration and Noble’s USDC integration) signal promising capital influx and further ecosystem expansion.

Sei (SEI): DeFi-Specialized Performance

Current Metrics:

• Price: Variable (up 6,000% in prior period analysis)
• Market Cap: $1.37B
• TVL: $27M

Sei specializes in DeFi application performance through optimized order book functionality and native matching engine integration—significantly reducing latency for decentralized exchanges and financial protocols.

The $120 million Ecosystem Fund (boosted by $50 million from Foresight Ventures) supports diverse Web3 projects in NFTs, gaming, and DeFi. Growth strategy emphasizes Asian market penetration leveraging regional tech sophistication and high crypto adoption. Strategic partnerships (including Graviton in India) and chain-level trading app optimizations make Sei attractive for developers seeking high-performance trading infrastructure.

Kava (KAVA): Cosmos-EVM Hybrid Platform

Current Metrics:

• Price: $0.08 (down 84.09% YoY)
• Market Cap: $82.71M
• TVL: $193M

Kava uniquely combines Cosmos SDK’s scalability and interoperability with EVM compatibility—enabling Ethereum developers to leverage Kava’s features through its “co-chain” architecture. The ecosystem includes 110+ active dApps with 250+ million TVL.

The native USDX stablecoin enables decentralized lending and borrowing without centralized oracle dependence. Major 2023 upgrades (Kava 12, Kava 13) enhanced Cosmos DAO flexibility, ecosystem scaling, and user experience. Integration of major stablecoins and bridges, plus emphasis on governance and security, strengthened Kava’s DeFi platform position. The “Kava Tokenomics 2.0” transition to fixed token supply aims to foster adoption and scarcity dynamics, while the community-owned Strategic Vault ($300+ million assets) demonstrates commitment to decentralized value growth.

ZetaChain (ZETA): True Omnichain Connectivity

Current Metrics:

• Price: $0.07 (down 88.78% YoY)
• Market Cap: $80.92M
• TVL: $3.25M

ZetaChain revolutionizes interoperability as the first truly “omnichain” Layer-1 blockchain—enabling seamless interaction with any blockchain architecture regardless of native smart contract capabilities. This unlocks cross-chain asset transfers, data exchange, and contract execution across heterogeneous networks.

Despite March 2023 launch, the ecosystem rapidly scaled to 20+ active dApps with partnerships from Chainlink and The Sandbox. 2023 achievements included 1,000,000+ testnet active users across 100+ countries, 6.3 million cross-chain transactions, and 200+ deployed testnet dApps. Strategic partnerships with Ankr Protocol and $27 million funding enhanced infrastructure access, while BYTE CITY and Ultiverse integrations introduced cross-chain functionality to gaming and social entertainment. These expansions position ZetaChain as a critical multi-chain infrastructure layer.

Layer-1 Versus Layer-2: A Symbiotic Relationship

Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions evolve together rather than in isolation. While Layer-2 protocols enhance scalability and transaction speed, Layer-1 blockchains provide essential security and decentralization foundations. Layer-2 solutions fundamentally depend on Layer-1 for final transaction settlement and security guarantees.

Improvements flow bidirectionally: Layer-1 enhancements (such as sharding in Ethereum) elevate Layer-2 performance capabilities, while successful Layer-2 patterns inform Layer-1 protocol upgrades. As blockchain technology achieves broader mainstream adoption, this dual-layer approach maintains critical equilibrium between security, decentralization, scalability, and speed—requirements that individual layers alone cannot satisfy.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond

Layer-1 blockchain networks continue leading the crypto revolution through continuous evolution and adaptation. From Solana’s exceptional throughput to Bitcoin’s security guarantees, each Layer-1 blockchain contributes distinct capabilities forming Web3’s rich infrastructure.

The interplay between Layer-1 stability and Layer-2 performance innovation ensures the ecosystem can simultaneously serve institutional security requirements and consumer usability demands. This balanced architecture positions blockchain technology for the mainstream applications and adoption patterns that 2025 and beyond will demand.

The era of Layer-1 dominance is far from concluded—instead, we’re entering a phase of specialization where different chains optimize for specific use cases while maintaining interconnectivity through Layer-2 and cross-chain protocols.