Ethereum Leads DApp Fee Revenue with Over $1B in Q1 2025

Following behind was Base, Coinbase’s Layer-2 network, with $193 million in revenue. BNB Chain came third with $170 million, while Arbitrum and Avalanche C-Chain collected $73.8 million and $27.68 million, respectively.

DApp fee revenue is a clear sign of how active a blockchain’s network is and the value it offers users. On Ethereum, popular DApps like Uniswap, Aave, OpenSea, and various blockchain games continue to attract heavy usage.

Ethereum’s ongoing leadership comes down to several key factors. As the first blockchain to offer smart contracts, it built a large and active DApp ecosystem early. It currently hosts more than 4,983 active DApps, second only to BNB Chain.

Another reason is Ethereum’s high security and reliability, which keep developers and users loyal. The network also introduced the Dencun upgrade in 2024, cutting costs on Layer-2 networks and improving scalability.

Ethereum’s DeFi market remains one of its biggest strengths. As per DefiLlama, Ethereum’s Total Value Locked (TVL) reached $46 billion, accounting for 51% of the total DeFi market.

While competitors like Base, BNB Chain, and Arbitrum are growing fast, Ethereum still leads the pack by a wide margin.