Recent data from Nansen reveals a significant surge in fees across several major blockchain networks, signaling increased user engagement and transaction activity. The top blockchains by fees have experienced triple-digit growth over the past week, with Layer-2 ecosystems driving this momentum. These networks continue to dominate the market’s scaling landscape. 1073% growth was seen on one leading Layer-2 network alone, followed by other major players like BNB Chain (+273%), Mantle (+236%), and Sonic (+233%). This broad-based growth is attributed to activities in DeFi, gaming, and onchain trading platforms.
These fee spikes coincide with a surge in onchain transactions and active addresses across several prominent networks. Optimism saw a 74% week-over-week jump in transaction volume, while BNB Chain processed over 107 million transactions during the same period. The rise in fees is also correlated with an uptick in user activity, especially on networks focused on decentralized finance and high-volume trading.
While higher transaction costs might limit smaller transactions, institutional and active users seem undeterred by these challenges. This indicates growing conviction in blockchain-based ecosystems and the potential for a positive market outlook.
Analysts believe this surge in network fees signals a bullish sign of increased blockchain utilization and stronger market fundamentals. Rising demand often precedes broader crypto rallies. With sustained onchain momentum, the top blockchains by fees may continue to set the tone for the crypto’s recovery heading into 2026.