Briefing
The Ethereum network is experiencing an unprecedented structural shift where base-layer activity and unique active addresses have reached all-time highs while transaction fees remain near multi-year lows. This counter-intuitive trend confirms the success of the network’s scaling roadmap, specifically the Dencun upgrade, which has effectively offloaded transaction volume to Layer-2 rollups. The network is now processing peak demand without congestion, proving its long-term viability as the global settlement layer. The most important data point is that average gas fees have plummeted to a mere 0.067 Gwei , the lowest level recorded since 2020.
Context
For years, the core uncertainty surrounding Ethereum was its ability to scale, with users constantly asking, “Can the network handle mass adoption without transaction fees becoming prohibitively expensive?” High gas costs during previous bull markets created a major barrier to entry and threatened the network’s utility. This data provides a definitive answer to whether the long-term scaling upgrades have finally solved the congestion problem.
Analysis
The key metrics being tracked are L1 Active Addresses and Average Gas Price (Gwei). Active Addresses measure the number of unique wallets interacting with the base layer, serving as a proxy for raw network demand. Gas Price measures the cost of that interaction. Historically, when Active Addresses go up, Gas Price spikes.
The current pattern shows Active Addresses at record highs, yet Gas Price is at multi-year lows. This decoupling is the signal. The Dencun upgrade, which lowered the cost for Layer-2s to post data to the main chain, is the cause. Layer-2s are now absorbing the majority of user transactions, allowing the Ethereum base layer to function as a low-cost, high-throughput settlement layer, even under peak load.
Parameters
- L1 Active Addresses ∞ The count of unique wallets interacting with the Ethereum base layer, currently at an All-Time High.
- Gas Fee Low ∞ 0.067 Gwei – The average gas price, representing the lowest level recorded since 2020.
- L1 Revenue Decline ∞ ~99% – The estimated drop in Ethereum’s base-layer transaction fee revenue since the Dencun upgrade.
Outlook
This structural change suggests a new era of utility for Ethereum. The removal of the fee barrier will accelerate development and user adoption across DeFi and other applications. The network is fundamentally more resilient to demand shocks.
The confirming signal to watch is a continued surge in Layer-2 transaction volume, which proves the demand is still present and being handled off-chain. A counter-signal would be a sudden, sustained spike in L1 gas fees above 10 Gwei, which would suggest L2s are failing to absorb the current transaction load.
Verdict
Ethereum has successfully solved its scaling problem, transitioning into a high-utility, low-cost settlement layer for the entire decentralized economy.
