Arbitrum, a robust Layer-2 network on the Ethereum blockchain, has been making waves in the crypto ecosystem with its rising transaction volumes and the significant appreciation of its native token, ARB, since the new year.
The decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume on the Arbitrum network has experienced a notable surge, surpassing major blockchains such as Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and Polygon. This was highlighted on January 5th, when Arbitrum’s DEX volume momentarily exceeded that of Ethereum’s mainnet, marking a significant milestone for the Layer-2 network.
The driving force behind Arbitrum’s trading success is its cost-effective transaction fees. Data from L2Fees shows that Arbitrum’s average transaction fee is $0.26, nearly one-twentieth of Ethereum’s average fee, which exceeds $5. This affordability has significantly contributed to the increased trading activity on Arbitrum’s DEXs.
Chain analytics from L2Beat reveal Arbitrum’s impressive standing among Ethereum-based Layer-2 networks, with an average of 12.85 transactions per second, placing it in the top three alongside zkSync Era and Ethereum. This strong network activity reflects the growing interest in Arbitrum’s Layer-2 solutions.
The rising DEX volume and increased network activity on Arbitrum have led to a significant rise in Total Value Locked (TVL), a critical metric measuring capital invested in a blockchain or decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol. Arbitrum witnessed a positive net inflow exceeding $250 million in early January, boosting its TVL to an all-time high of $2.64 billion as of January 12th.