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Arbitrum's $3.38 billion TVL nears its highest point since May 2022, with 54% market share on Ethereum, as layer-2 scaling solutions see strong demand, with
Arbitrum, a layer-2 Ethereum-focused scaling solution, has surpassed the Ethereum chain in terms of total transactions processed, with 12.77 transactions per second compared to Ethereum's 12.55 TPS, as of February 21 [2]. This growth is significant, as it indicates a shift in user preference towards layer-2 scaling solutions, which offer faster and cheaper transactions compared to the base blockchain.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $3.38 billion |
| Market Share on Ethereum | 54% |
| Transactions Per Second (TPS) | 12.77 |
| TVL Milestone | Near highest point since May 2022 |
The growth of Arbitrum and other layer-2 scaling solutions can be attributed to the increasing demand for decentralized finance (DeFi) and other use cases, such as gaming and social applications [2]. According to Harry Kalodner, CTO and co-founder of Offchain Labs, a developer of Arbitrum, DeFi is currently showing the most traction, but gaming and social applications could drive mass adoption [2]. The TVL of Arbitrum is near its highest point since May 2022, indicating strong demand for the platform.
Antier, a blockchain development company, has established a unified blockchain delivery model that spans every layer of the blockchain ecosystem, from Layer 0 protocols to Layer 3 appchains [1]. This model provides a single engineering partner for organizations, capable of delivering end-to-end blockchain solutions. Antier has delivered several blockchain projects, including a production-ready Layer 1 blockchain on DAG architecture and a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain built on Cosmos SDK [1]. The company is also actively building at the intersection of AI and blockchain, developing AI-integrated Web3 platforms and intelligent protocol layers [1].
The growth of Arbitrum and other layer-2 scaling solutions is also reflected in their on-chain metrics, with an increase in new addresses, number of transactions, and TVL [2]. According to Steven Goldfeder, co-founder and CEO of Offchain Labs, the growth feels very real, with all core metrics showing an increase [2]. The average total L2 TPS across all scaling solutions has been higher than Ethereum's for the past few months, indicating a shift in user preference towards layer-2 solutions [2].
The significance of Arbitrum's growth lies in its indication of a shift in user preference towards layer-2 scaling solutions, which offer faster and cheaper transactions compared to the base blockchain. As the demand for DeFi and other use cases continues to grow, it will be important to monitor the development of layer-2 scaling solutions and their impact on the blockchain ecosystem.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 2 outlets · Jul 22, 2026 · How we report
Layer 2 Scaling is necessary because blockchains possess fundamental limitations that prevent them from facilitating global-scale transactions without sacrificing decentralization and verifiability. By moving frequent, smaller transactions to a secondary layer, the main blockchain can function as a secure settlement layer.
Examples of Layer 2 Scaling systems include the Lightning Network, Ark, sidechains, statechains, rollups, and client-side validated systems. These architectures are designed to facilitate higher transactional volumes while maintaining varying degrees of independence from the main chain.
Layer 2 Scaling systems attempt to mitigate the need for trusted third parties by developing mechanisms that allow users to unilaterally exit back to the mainchain. While early sidechain designs often required some form of trusted third party, newer schemes focus on permissionless exit capabilities.