the Ethereum network performed strongly in 2025, processing a record volume of transactions and dominating the DeFi market (mainnet TVL accounted for 64%). However, the ETH price fell 10% throughout the year to below $3,000, decoupling from network activity. Because Ethereum proactively reduced transaction fees through technical upgrades to promote the growth of L2 networks and the expansion of the entire ecosystem, mainnet revenue declined significantly. In 2025, total L2 revenue fell 53% to $129 million, but fees paid to the mainnet sharply dropped to only $10 million, with L2 operators retaining about $119 million in profit. This means the Ethereum mainnet “sacrificed” over $100 million in potential revenue (a decrease of about $103 million compared to 2024) to subsidize ecosystem growth.