According to new data from Nansen, several major blockchain networks have seen a dramatic spike in fee revenue over the past week, signaling renewed user engagement and transaction activity. The top blockchains by fees recorded triple‑digit growth, led by Layer‑2 ecosystems that continue to dominate the market’s scaling landscape.
The report shows one leading Layer‑2 network up 1,073% in fees, followed by another with a 786% increase. BNB Chain (+273%), Mantle (+236%), and Sonic (+233%) complete the top five, reflecting broad‑based growth across DeFi, gaming, and on‑chain trading platforms. Nansen noted that users are “paying up to play,” with activity rising sharply despite higher transaction costs.
User Activity Accelerates Across Ecosystems
The surge in fees correlates with a major uptick in on‑chain transactions and active addresses, particularly on networks focused on decentralized finance and high‑volume trading. Optimism saw transaction volume jump by 74% week‑over‑week, while BNB Chain processed more than 107 million transactions in the same period.
Meanwhile, Arbitrum’s soaring fee levels suggest traders are engaging in larger or more complex transactions despite a small decline in unique users. Up‑and‑coming players like Mantle and Sonic are also seeing rapid expansion, gaining traction as emerging alternatives within the Layer‑2 ecosystem.
A Sign of Renewed Market Strength
Analysts view the surge in network fees as a bullish indicator of growing blockchain utilization. Rising demand often points to stronger fundamentals and increased liquidity moving on‑chain, trends that typically precede broader market rallies.
While rising costs may limit smaller transactions, institutional and active users appear undeterred, indicating growing conviction in blockchain‑based ecosystems. With sustained on‑chain momentum, the top blockchains by fees could set the tone for the next phase of crypto’s recovery heading into 2026.