Ethereum Mainnet and Layer 2 are reshaping DeFi. But where will the future of smart capital choose to reside? Safe Mainnet or fast L2?
The DeFi market on Ethereum is witnessing a clear division between Mainnet and Layer 2 (L2) solutions, with each layer taking on a specialized role in the ecosystem. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the drivers, strengths, risks, and outlook for 6–12 months 🖱️👇🏻
1. Macro Drivers: Function Segmentation
Ethereum mainnet: Functions as a "trustworthy tool", optimized for high-level security and deep liquidity, serving large value transactions (RWA, treasury, major DeFi pools). However, the average gas fee (5–20$, according to Dune Analytics 2025) makes high-frequency activities (trading, yield farming) less attractive.
Layer 2: Acts as a "performance tool", providing low fees ( under $0.1 ) and fast completion capabilities, ideal for decentralized exchanges ( DEX ), futures contracts, social networking applications, and gaming. New users often participate through L2 and only return to the mainnet when they need deep liquidity.
Layer 2 Model: The main network serves as the center for payment and liquidity, while L2 acts as the execution layer for high volume and high frequency transactions. This layered model is strongly supported by the Ethereum community, including Vitalik Buterin, as a long-term scalability strategy.
2. Why did the dApp volume decrease on the Mainnet while the ecosystem remains strong?
Quality over quantity: The mainnet remains the core of large-scale DeFi. According to DeFiLlama (August 2025), about 65% of Ethereum's TVL is concentrated on mainnet (Aave, MakerDAO, Uniswap V3), thanks to superior security and standardized infrastructure (Chainlink oracle, institutional-grade custody services).
Retail transactions (Retail transactions): Repeated transactions (trading, NFT minting) have moved to Layer 2 to save costs, reducing the volume of dApps on the mainnet. However, the value of secured assets (TVL ~ 80B$) and the strategic role of the mainnet remain solid.
3. Where does L2 dominate?
Perpetuals & high-speed DEXs: Arbitrum (GMX, Gains Network) and Mantle lead the way with low fees and high throughput, suitable for market making, grid trading, and copy trading. For example, the trading volume on Arbitrum accounts for about 30% of the total trading volume on Ethereum (Dune Analytics).
Consumer application: Base (baseapp, NFT market ) and Optimism are strong in social/gaming aspects thanks to smooth UX and low fees, attracting retail users.
Practical yield farming: Short-term strategies ( points, liquidity mining, flexible vaults ) thrive on L2, where transaction costs do not erode profits.
4. The risks of over-reliance on Layer 2
Bridges & sequencers: Centralization risks ( sequencer downtime, as seen in Arbitrum 2024) and MEV remain challenges. However, major L2s have improved stability with ( uptime of 99.9%, L2Beat ).
Fragmented liquidity (Fragmented liquidity ): High slippage in long-tail trading pairs on smaller L2s. Aggregators and cross-chain RFQs are mitigating this situation.
Data infrastructure: Oracles and indexing tools on Layer 2 have not yet been standardized as they are on the mainnet, but Chainlink CCIP and solutions like Redstone are bridging the gap.
5. Prospects 6–12 months
In the coming year, the Ethereum Mainnet will remain a place for holding large capital and high security, while Layer 2 will accelerate significantly in high-frequency trading, gaming, and consumer applications. Smart users will learn how to "live in parallel": keeping large capital on the Mainnet, while using Layer 2 for flexible trading.
6. Bài học rút ra (Takeaway) • Retail users: L2 = low fees + fast UX → suitable for trading, NFT, entertainment apps. • Big capital holders: Mainnet = deep liquidity + safety → suitable for staking and RWA. • Flexible person: Combine both → optimize profit, reduce risk.
7. Investor perspective
Infrastructure investment: $ETH is a reliable layer, L2 is a growth driver. They complement each other rather than negate each other.
Ethereum is like the heart that keeps the blood flowing, while Layer 2 is the legs that help the ecosystem run faster. Those who know how to leverage both will be one step ahead in the next cycle.
Conclusion The Ethereum mainnet is reinforcing its role as the center of liquidity and security, while Layer 2 is breaking through in performance and user experience. Smart capital will be circulated accordingly: large value is anchored on the mainnet, high-frequency transactions are carried out on Layer 2. Those who build products and strategies that align with these unique characteristics will experience user (UX) optimized on L2, with deep liquidity on the mainnet leading the next growth cycle. With increasingly improved infrastructure and the strengthening coordination between the mainnet and L2, Ethereum remains the strongest DeFi ecosystem, ready for the next wave of innovation in 2026.
📌 Data source: DeFiLlama, Dune Analytics, L2Beat ( as of August 2025 ).
In your opinion, will the next cycle belong to Mainnet or L2? Please comment on your perspective.
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Ethereum Mainnet and Layer 2 are reshaping DeFi. But where will the future of smart capital choose to reside? Safe Mainnet or fast L2?
The DeFi market on Ethereum is witnessing a clear division between Mainnet and Layer 2 (L2) solutions, with each layer taking on a specialized role in the ecosystem.
Below is a comprehensive analysis of the drivers, strengths, risks, and outlook for 6–12 months 🖱️👇🏻
1. Macro Drivers: Function Segmentation
Ethereum mainnet: Functions as a "trustworthy tool", optimized for high-level security and deep liquidity, serving large value transactions (RWA, treasury, major DeFi pools). However, the average gas fee (5–20$, according to Dune Analytics 2025) makes high-frequency activities (trading, yield farming) less attractive.
Layer 2: Acts as a "performance tool", providing low fees ( under $0.1 ) and fast completion capabilities, ideal for decentralized exchanges ( DEX ), futures contracts, social networking applications, and gaming. New users often participate through L2 and only return to the mainnet when they need deep liquidity.
Layer 2 Model: The main network serves as the center for payment and liquidity, while L2 acts as the execution layer for high volume and high frequency transactions. This layered model is strongly supported by the Ethereum community, including Vitalik Buterin, as a long-term scalability strategy.
2. Why did the dApp volume decrease on the Mainnet while the ecosystem remains strong?
Quality over quantity: The mainnet remains the core of large-scale DeFi. According to DeFiLlama (August 2025), about 65% of Ethereum's TVL is concentrated on mainnet (Aave, MakerDAO, Uniswap V3), thanks to superior security and standardized infrastructure (Chainlink oracle, institutional-grade custody services).
Retail transactions (Retail transactions): Repeated transactions (trading, NFT minting) have moved to Layer 2 to save costs, reducing the volume of dApps on the mainnet. However, the value of secured assets (TVL ~ 80B$) and the strategic role of the mainnet remain solid.
3. Where does L2 dominate?
Perpetuals & high-speed DEXs: Arbitrum (GMX, Gains Network) and Mantle lead the way with low fees and high throughput, suitable for market making, grid trading, and copy trading. For example, the trading volume on Arbitrum accounts for about 30% of the total trading volume on Ethereum (Dune Analytics).
Consumer application: Base (baseapp, NFT market ) and Optimism are strong in social/gaming aspects thanks to smooth UX and low fees, attracting retail users.
Practical yield farming: Short-term strategies ( points, liquidity mining, flexible vaults ) thrive on L2, where transaction costs do not erode profits.
4. The risks of over-reliance on Layer 2
Bridges & sequencers: Centralization risks ( sequencer downtime, as seen in Arbitrum 2024) and MEV remain challenges. However, major L2s have improved stability with ( uptime of 99.9%, L2Beat ).
Fragmented liquidity (Fragmented liquidity ): High slippage in long-tail trading pairs on smaller L2s. Aggregators and cross-chain RFQs are mitigating this situation.
Data infrastructure: Oracles and indexing tools on Layer 2 have not yet been standardized as they are on the mainnet, but Chainlink CCIP and solutions like Redstone are bridging the gap.
5. Prospects 6–12 months
In the coming year, the Ethereum Mainnet will remain a place for holding large capital and high security, while Layer 2 will accelerate significantly in high-frequency trading, gaming, and consumer applications.
Smart users will learn how to "live in parallel": keeping large capital on the Mainnet, while using Layer 2 for flexible trading.
6. Bài học rút ra (Takeaway)
• Retail users: L2 = low fees + fast UX → suitable for trading, NFT, entertainment apps.
• Big capital holders: Mainnet = deep liquidity + safety → suitable for staking and RWA.
• Flexible person: Combine both → optimize profit, reduce risk.
7. Investor perspective
Infrastructure investment: $ETH is a reliable layer, L2 is a growth driver. They complement each other rather than negate each other.
Ethereum is like the heart that keeps the blood flowing, while Layer 2 is the legs that help the ecosystem run faster. Those who know how to leverage both will be one step ahead in the next cycle.
Conclusion
The Ethereum mainnet is reinforcing its role as the center of liquidity and security, while Layer 2 is breaking through in performance and user experience.
Smart capital will be circulated accordingly: large value is anchored on the mainnet, high-frequency transactions are carried out on Layer 2.
Those who build products and strategies that align with these unique characteristics will experience user (UX) optimized on L2, with deep liquidity on the mainnet leading the next growth cycle. With increasingly improved infrastructure and the strengthening coordination between the mainnet and L2, Ethereum remains the strongest DeFi ecosystem, ready for the next wave of innovation in 2026.
📌 Data source: DeFiLlama, Dune Analytics, L2Beat ( as of August 2025 ).
In your opinion, will the next cycle belong to Mainnet or L2? Please comment on your perspective.