Ethereum Network Hits Record High: Active Addresses Skyrocket in 2025

Ethereum's user base is exploding—and the numbers don't lie. Active addresses are climbing at a pace that’s got even Bitcoin maxis glancing over their shoulders.

Why the surge? DeFi’s back in fashion, NFTs aren’t dead yet, and institutional players are finally figuring out how to use MetaMask without calling tech support. Meanwhile, TradFi banks are still charging $25 wire fees like it’s 1995.

The takeaway? Ethereum’s not just surviving—it’s thriving. And if this growth keeps up, we might just see Wall Street ‘discover’ blockchain again… right after their summer vacations.

Ethereum Wallet Activity Hits Two-Year Peak

According to data from DeFi analytics firm Sentora, Ethereum’s Daily Active Addresses—a metric that counts how many wallets are involved in transactions each day—has surged significantly. The figure recently shot past 930,000, marking the highest level since 2022. For context, the network had been hovering around 600,000 active wallets for most of the past year.

This jump in active addresses reflects a broader return of market participants to the ethereum network. It’s a sign that more users are moving funds, swapping tokens, minting NFTs, or interacting with DeFi protocols. However, it’s important to note that this metric alone doesn’t indicate whether buying or selling dominates. It merely confirms that activity is happening—lots of it.

Price Volatility Returns With Uptick in Activity

While an increase in activity can be interpreted as a bullish sign, history shows that it often precedes volatility rather than a clear directional move. This time, Ethereum’s price action has tilted toward the downside. ETH is currently trading around $3,650, down 3.5% in the past 24 hours.

The combination of higher wallet activity and falling prices suggests that some of the recent transactions could be driven by selling pressure. Still, with this much on-chain engagement, a potential reversal may not be far off if traders regain confidence.

Stablecoin Transfers Rebound, but Ethereum Lags Behind

In related metrics, stablecoin usage is also showing signs of revival. Glassnode, a blockchain data firm, reports that USDT (Tether) transfer volumes based on its 30-day moving average have recovered to $52.9 billion. This indicates that stablecoin velocity and broader market activity are gradually rebounding after the crypto winter of 2022.

However, Ethereum isn’t leading this trend.

Despite being the birthplace of DeFi, Ethereum currently ranks third in terms of USDT transfer volume. The top two chains are Tron, with $23 billion, and BNB Chain, with $14.9 billion. These numbers highlight a notable shift: lower-fee blockchains are increasingly favored for stablecoin transactions, likely due to cost-efficiency and speed.

This trend suggests Ethereum may be losing some of its dominance in stablecoin usage, though it continues to lead in other areas like NFTs and smart contract deployments.

On-Chain Sentiment: What Does It Mean for Ethereum?

The surge in Ethereum active addresses is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it reflects robust user engagement and a potentially healthy network. On the other, it coincides with a short-term drop in price, signaling possible near-term selling pressure.

For long-term investors, the spike in on-chain activity could be interpreted as a foundational strength. High activity levels often precede network upgrades, renewed interest in dApps, or major market cycles. But until buying volume clearly outweighs selling, Ethereum may remain in a volatile zone.

Looking Ahead

Ethereum’s fundamentals are strengthening in terms of usage, but market price remains sensitive to broader sentiment and macroeconomic conditions. With the crypto market preparing for key U.S. economic data and ETF inflows, any shift in risk appetite could quickly alter Ethereum’s trajectory.

Still, the rise in active wallets suggests that Ethereum remains at the Core of the crypto ecosystem. Whether it’s for DeFi, staking, or token transfers, users are returning. And that’s a trend that, over time, could support higher prices—if investor confidence continues to grow.

For now, all eyes are on whether Ethereum can translate this wave of activity into a sustainable price recovery.