15 Must-Watch Layer-1 Blockchains Reshaping Crypto in 2025

The foundation of blockchain technology rests on Layer 1 networks—these are the core architectures that process, validate, and permanently record transactions. As the crypto ecosystem matures, Layer 1 solutions have become increasingly specialized, each addressing different market needs from raw speed to security to interoperability. Whether you’re looking for established players or emerging innovations, understanding today’s Layer-1 landscape is essential for navigating digital assets in 2025.

Why Layer-1 Blockchains Matter

Layer-1 networks form the backbone of decentralized finance. Unlike Layer-2 solutions that build on top of existing chains, Layer-1 protocols are autonomous networks with their own consensus mechanisms and security architectures. They handle everything: transaction settlement, smart contract execution, and network governance.

Key advantages of Layer-1 infrastructure:

• Decentralization & Security: No single entity controls the network. Transactions are immutable, and all activity is transparent and auditable.
• Native Tokens: Each Layer-1 has its own cryptocurrency serving multiple functions—transaction fees, network staking, governance participation.
• Developer-Friendly: Layer-1 blockchains provide the foundation upon which thousands of dApps are built, from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces.
• Network Effects: Established Layer-1 chains attract more users and developers, which increases their value and utility over time.
• Consensus Independence: Different Layer-1 networks employ various consensus models—Proof of Work, Proof of Stake, hybrid mechanisms—each with unique security-scalability tradeoffs.

The 15 Layer-1 Projects You Should Track

1. Solana (SOL)—The Speed Champion

Current Metrics (as of Dec 2025)

• Price: $121.36
• Market Cap: $68.28B
• 1-Year Performance: -38.48%
• TVL: $3.46B

Solana earned its reputation for delivering exceptional throughput at minimal costs. The network’s Proof of History (PoH) consensus combined with Proof of Stake achieves transaction speeds that rival traditional payment systems, making it the go-to Layer-1 for high-frequency DeFi trading.

The ecosystem has matured considerably. Solana Improvement Documents (SIMDs) now formalize protocol enhancement proposals, with 79 implementations since launch. The Firedancer upgrade targets a dramatic increase in validator throughput, while network decentralization has strengthened with 2,000+ active nodes.

Recent highlights: Helium’s integration, BONK airdrop success, partnerships with Google Cloud and AWS, and Solana Mobile Saga adoption demonstrate the network’s expanding use cases beyond finance.

2. Avalanche (AVAX)—The Scalability Innovator

Current Metrics

• Price: $12.21
• Market Cap: $5.25B
• 1-Year Performance: -69.62%
• TVL: $1.5B

Avalanche combines classical and Nakamoto consensus elements to achieve sub-two-second finality—a major technical achievement. The network’s C-Chain recorded 3.07 million transactions, with transaction throughput hitting 40+ TPS during peak activity.

The rise of inscription tokens (over 50% of network transactions) drove significant fee activity, demonstrating market demand. Strategic partnerships with J.P. Morgan’s Onyx blockchain project validated Avalanche’s enterprise appeal.

3. Kaspa (KAS)—The DAG Alternative

Current Metrics

• Price: $0.04
• Market Cap: $1.20B
• 1-Year Performance: -62.61%
• TVL: Not available

Kaspa’s GHOSTDAG consensus mechanism enables rapid block processing and instant finality—a departure from traditional blockchain models. The network migrated from GoLang to Rust, unlocking modern hardware potential for improved transaction throughput.

Notable 2023 developments: High-performance mobile wallet deployment, P2P archival node improvements for extended data access, and positioning as a scalable PoW platform for smart contracts.

4. Bitcoin (BTC)—The Foundation

Current Metrics

• Price: $87.00K
• Market Cap: $1737.19B
• 1-Year Performance: -12.47%
• TVL: $1.1B

Bitcoin remains the reference Layer-1 standard. Its immutable ledger and proven consensus mechanism continue attracting institutional capital seeking store-of-value characteristics.

The Bitcoin ecosystem evolved significantly: Ordinals protocol enabled NFT inscription directly on Bitcoin, creating new asset classes (ORDI, SATS, RATS, DOVI). Layer-2 solutions like Stacks address smart contract limitations, while derivative protocols (Atomicals, ARC20) explore novel tokenization methods using satoshis.

5. The Open Network (TON)—The Telegram Connection

Current Metrics

• Market Cap: $21.9B
• 1-Year Performance: 169%
• TVL: $145M

TON’s architectural design prioritizes scalability through sharding, enabling high-volume transaction processing. Originally conceptualized by Telegram founders before regulatory complications, the TON Foundation and community developers (NewTON) now drive innovation.

The ecosystem includes decentralized storage, specialized payment systems for off-chain transactions, and integration with Telegram’s advertising revenue—a real-world utility driver that sparked 40% price appreciation in March 2024. The potential Telegram IPO could unlock significant utility expansion.

6. Internet Computer (ICP)—The Decentralized Cloud

Current Metrics

• Price: $2.99
• Market Cap: $1.63B
• 1-Year Performance: -73.11%
• TVL: $88M

Internet Computer reimagines infrastructure by hosting complete software systems on-chain. The consensus mechanism prioritizes transaction throughput, while the Network Nervous System (NNS) manages governance.

2023 achievements: WebSocket integration enabled real-time applications, stable memory expansion supported complex dApps, secure HTTPS outcalls connected Web2 integration, and direct Bitcoin connectivity streamlined cross-chain transactions. SNS-enabled DAO token issuance broadened community participation.

7. Sei (SEI)—The Trading Layer

Current Metrics

• Price: $0.11
• Market Cap: $708.83M
• 1-Year Performance: -76.02%
• TVL: $27M

Sei was purpose-built for DeFi, combining optimized order book functionality with a native matching engine. This architecture reduces latency and improves DEX efficiency—genuine differentiation in the trading stack.

The Sei Ecosystem Fund ($120M) backs diverse applications across NFTs, gaming, and DeFi. Strategic Asia-market penetration leverages regional adoption advantages, supported by partnerships like Graviton in India.

8. Sui (SUI)—The Move Developer Platform

Current Metrics

• Price: $1.39
• Market Cap: $5.18B
• 1-Year Performance: -69.22%
• TVL: $557M

Sui’s Move programming language and parallel execution engine deliver high throughput at minimal cost. Post-mainnet launch, the network recorded 65.8 million transactions in a single day, peaking TVL at $188M.

The zkLogin feature revolutionized dApp access by enabling Web2 social account authentication with enhanced privacy. The TurboStar program on Turbos DEX accelerates ecosystem growth through targeted fundraising support.

9. Aptos (APT)—The Scalable Mover

Current Metrics

• Price: $1.67
• Market Cap: $1.25B
• 1-Year Performance: -82.50%
• TVL: $342M

Aptos brought parallel execution innovation to the blockchain sector, enabling thousands of transactions simultaneously without compromising speed. Over $400M in funding from Tiger Global and PayPal Ventures demonstrates institutional confidence.

Strategic partnerships expanded utility: Sushi integration enhanced DeFi services, Coinbase Pay integration simplified transactions, and collaborations with Microsoft, NEOWIZ, MARBLEX, and Lotte Group entered gaming/entertainment. The new Digital Asset Standard targeted real-world applications.

10. Polkadot (DOT)—The Interoperability Layer

Current Metrics

• Market Cap: $9.6B
• 1-Year Performance: -0.39%
• TVL: $230M

Polkadot’s multi-chain architecture enables trust-free message and value transfers across specialized blockchains while pooling security. Parachains operate as sovereign networks within the broader ecosystem.

Developer activity surged with 19,090 GitHub contributions in March 2023. Parathreads offered cost-effective blockchain onboarding, while Next-Generation Scheduling improved network flexibility. The Polkadot 2.0 roadmap promises significant scalability and governance enhancements. Nomination Pools increased staking participation by 49%, broadening network security distribution.

11. Cosmos (ATOM)—The Interconnected Ecosystem

Current Metrics

• Price: $2.02
• Market Cap: $980.96M
• 1-Year Performance: -70.92%
• TVL: $1.25M (CosmosHub)

Cosmos pioneered interoperability through the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, allowing sovereign blockchains to interact while maintaining independence. Interchain Security enabled smaller chains to leverage Cosmos Hub’s validator set.

The ecosystem processed 500,000 daily transactions on average, with ATOM trading volume reaching 20 million tokens. The Theta upgrade introduced Interchain Accounts for enhanced cross-chain automation, while the Rho upgrade added Liquid Staking and NFT modules. The Interchain Foundation allocated $26.4M for 2024 development initiatives.

12. Ethereum (ETH)—The Ecosystem Anchor

Current Metrics

• Price: $2.92K
• Market Cap: $352.24B
• 1-Year Performance: -16.50%
• TVL: $49B

Ethereum commands the Layer-1 landscape with 3,000+ active dApps and the largest developer community. The transition to Proof of Stake (completed in 2022) reduced energy consumption significantly while Layer-2 rollups addressed scalability constraints.

The ecosystem continues evolving: Dencun upgrade enhanced Layer-2 efficiency, while ongoing R&D targets sharding and further performance gains. Ethereum 2.0’s full realization promises dramatic improvements in transaction throughput and energy footprint.

13. BNB Chain (BNB)—The Exchange-Backed Alternative

Current Metrics

• Price: $828.30
• Market Cap: $114.09B
• 1-Year Performance: +17.89%
• TVL: $5.2B

BNB Chain (formerly BSC) leverages Binance’s ecosystem while maintaining independent operation. The dual-chain architecture enables seamless asset transfers, while PoSA consensus delivers faster and cheaper transactions than Ethereum.

Over 1,300 active dApps demonstrate rapid ecosystem growth. The formal 2023 rebranding from BSC signaled broader vision, introducing a separate PoS chain for staking/governance and expanding cross-chain bridges. Future roadmap highlights Layer-2 integrations and potential sharding implementation.

14. Kava (KAVA)—The Cosmos DeFi Hub

Current Metrics

• Price: $0.08
• Market Cap: $81.29M
• 1-Year Performance: -84.36%
• TVL: $193M

Kava uniquely combines Cosmos SDK scalability with EVM compatibility, creating a bridge between ecosystems. The “co-chain” architecture supports 110+ active dApps while maintaining fast, low-cost transactions.

Recent Kava 14 upgrade enabled USDt minting directly on Cosmos, broadening stablecoin access. The transition to fixed KAVA token supply through “Tokenomics 2.0” aims to enhance scarcity dynamics, while the community-owned Strategic Vault ($300M+) demonstrates decentralization commitment.

15. ZetaChain (ZETA)—The Omnichain Connector

Current Metrics

• Price: $0.07
• Market Cap: $79.36M
• 1-Year Performance: -88.98%
• TVL: $3.25M

ZetaChain pursues a genuinely novel approach: true omnichain architecture that connects any blockchain regardless of native design. Omnichain smart contracts enable seamless cross-chain logic execution and asset transfers.

Since March 2023 launch, the ecosystem matured rapidly: 1,000,000+ testnet users from 100+ countries, 6.3M cross-chain transactions, and 200+ dApp deployments. Strategic partnerships with Ankr Protocol, BYTE CITY, and Ultiverse signal expanding utility across infrastructure, social entertainment, and gaming.

Layer 1 vs. Layer 2: Complementary Scaling

Layer-2 solutions enhance performance and reduce costs, but they remain dependent on Layer-1 security and finality. This relationship is symbiotic: Layer-2 innovations inform Layer-1 upgrades, while Layer-1 improvements unlock Layer-2 potential. Sharding implementation on Layer-1 enhances Layer-2 throughput, while successful Layer-2 designs inspire Layer-1 protocol evolution.

The dual-layer development trajectory continues accelerating as blockchain technology matures and mainstream applications demand balanced security, decentralization, scalability, and speed simultaneously.

Conclusion

Layer-1 blockchains remain central to the crypto revolution heading into 2025 and beyond. Each network offers distinct tradeoffs—Bitcoin’s unmatched security, Solana’s speed, Ethereum’s developer ecosystem, Cosmos’s interoperability. This diversity strengthens the overall sector by addressing different market segments and use cases.

The ongoing coevolution of Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions ensures that blockchain infrastructure continues improving in efficiency, accessibility, and capability. Whether building decentralized finance, NFT platforms, or novel Web3 applications, developers now have unprecedented optionality in selecting their foundational Layer-1 blockchain.