Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) Total Value Locked (TVL) drops to a two-year low, ecosystem momentum weakens.

Ethereum's Layer 2 ecosystem total value locked (TVL) has dropped to around $5 billion, hitting its lowest level since 2023 and nearly erasing the capital accumulated during the L2 ecosystem's rapid growth in 2024. Data shows that the combined TVL of the three major networks—Optimism, Base, and Arbitrum—stands at around $4.8 billion, accounting for 96% of the entire L2 ecosystem. Reports note that the L2 ecosystem's cooling is occurring in tandem with broader challenges facing Ethereum as a whole. Since the start of this year, several senior executives at the Ethereum Foundation have stepped down, with personnel adjustments made. Meanwhile, traditional financial institutions, when exploring blockchain infrastructure, are increasingly turning to alternatives beyond Ethereum. For instance, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is advancing Treasury tokenization based on a multi-chain environment, while JPMorgan Chase has expanded its JPM Coin to multiple public blockchains. However, stablecoins remain a key pillar of the Ethereum ecosystem; currently, USDC and USDT are still primarily settled via Ethereum and its L2 networks, allowing Ethereum to continue serving as a critical bridge for traditional finance to enter the crypto market.