TL;DR
- Ethereum Layer-2 networks reach a new record with over $13.5 billion in stablecoins locked.
- Arbitrum One and Base lead among Layer-2 platforms, with over 75% of the total funds locked in their networks.
- The global stablecoin market surpasses $205 billion, driven by sustained growth and the adoption of new use cases.
The stablecoin ecosystem has reached new highs, with over $13.5 billion locked in Ethereum Layer-2 networks. This figure represents a substantial increase, highlighting the central role of these platforms in the evolution of the market.
According to recent data from The TIE Terminal and DefiLlama, the total market capitalization of stablecoins has exceeded $205 billion, solidifying its position as one of the most important tools in cryptocurrency adoption and the development of decentralized financial applications.
The most widely used stablecoins on these networks include Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and the recently introduced USDe, issued by Ethena. These currencies have proven essential for liquidity and interoperability between different blockchains, enabling users to transfer value efficiently and securely.
Among Layer-2 networks, Arbitrum One leads with $6.75 billion in stablecoins locked, followed by Base with $3.56 billion. There is a growing interest in leveraging Ethereum and its scaling solutions to support the expanding crypto ecosystem.
Ethereum: The Foundation for Stablecoin Growth
The success of Layer-2 networks, such as those mentioned, underscores Ethereum’s importance as a foundation for developing decentralized technologies. These platforms not only enable faster and cheaper transactions but also open the door to new use cases in areas like global payments and remittances. According to Matthias Seidl, co-founder of GrowThePie, stablecoins have solidified their place as one of the “most prominent use cases” in the current cryptocurrency cycle.
Meanwhile, the total stablecoin market has shown sustained growth since November 2023, when the market capitalization stood at around $123 billion. Tether has been the primary driver of this growth, reaching a capitalization of $140 billion in December 2024, while USDC has also performed well, reaching $42 billion.
Experts anticipate that implementing regulations such as MiCA in Europe and specific laws in the United States could double the stablecoin market capitalization to $400 billion by 2025
