Why Layer 2s Still Matter in 2025
Ethereum scaling has been a multi-year saga. Gas fees might not be as brutal as they were in the 2021 bull run, but they still spike during network congestion. Ethereum 2.0 helped—somewhat. But it didn’t kill the need for Layer 2s.
Layer 2s remain crucial in 2025 because they make Ethereum usable. They take transactions off-chain, batch them, and settle them on Layer 1. This cuts down fees and clears the bottleneck. But not all Layer 2s are equal, and the next generation is already reshaping how developers and users interact with Ethereum.
Some focus on speed. Others prioritize interoperability. A few push for native privacy. The competition is real, and 2025 is already spotlighting the front-runners.
What Changed Since 2024?
The last twelve months have been intense. Rollups matured. zkEVMs moved from “upcoming tech” to “daily use.” A few early projects fizzled out, but the successful ones doubled down and scaled faster.
Several big names shifted their strategies. Arbitrum launched its own Layer 3 stack. Polygon rolled out Aggregated zk-proofs, boosting finality and speed. And Base, Coinbase’s own Layer 2, is no longer a side project—it’s a primary onboarding point for millions of retail users.
Meanwhile, newer players are entering the scene with wild ideas, fresh architectures, and strong funding. Some aren’t even fully live yet but already drawing attention for the right reasons.
#1 – Scroll: zkEVM Done Right?
Scroll is a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM), meaning it mimics Ethereum’s base layer but settles faster and cheaper. It aims to make the transition from Ethereum seamless. For developers, deploying on Scroll feels like deploying on Ethereum. No extra coding. No rewiring your brain.
The real kicker? Scroll uses zk-proofs for security, which makes it arguably more secure than Optimistic Rollups. In 2025, Scroll is getting ready for a massive ecosystem expansion. Several DeFi giants are preparing to go live, and the developer grants are flowing.
Scroll’s roadmap for this year includes recursive proofs, multi-proof aggregation, and faster finality. All of this adds up to one thing: it’s not just another Layer 2—it’s one that could quietly eat market share.
#2 – Starknet: Scaling with Customization
Starknet, powered by StarkWare, has always been a bit of a rebel. It doesn’t use Solidity, Ethereum’s go-to language. Instead, it uses Cairo, which threw some developers off early. But in 2025, that’s no longer a drawback—it’s a differentiator.
Cairo lets developers build apps that are faster, more scalable, and easier to prove with zk-tech. Starknet apps feel snappier. Complex computations are cheaper. Starknet is going after use cases Ethereum just can’t handle efficiently—think real-time games, decentralized AI models, and massive on-chain simulations.
The biggest challenge Starknet still faces is tooling. But the community is catching up. Cairo SDKs have improved. Deployment is less painful. If devs can handle the learning curve, they’re rewarded with next-gen performance.
#3 – Base: Coinbase’s Trojan Horse
When Base launched in 2023, most saw it as a retail-friendly on-ramp. Two years later, it’s more than that—it’s a major Layer 2 with mainstream reach.
Coinbase has quietly built infrastructure around Base that gives it an edge: native wallet integration, fiat rails, KYC-friendly apps. It’s not the most “decentralized” L2, but it doesn’t pretend to be. Base is about mass adoption.
In 2025, Base is pushing into DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure), on-chain consumer apps, and even compliant DeFi. It’s also working on plugging into EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding), which will reduce fees even further.
Base might never appeal to purists. But for people just trying to use crypto without headaches, it’s becoming the go-to.
#4 – zkSync: A Full-Stack zk Experience
zkSync was one of the first zk-rollups to gain serious traction. In 2025, it’s finally delivering on its full-stack ambitions.
zkSync Era, the project’s mainnet, offers fast finality, smart contract support, and zk-proofs. But what sets it apart is its native account abstraction. Wallets can be smarter, simpler, and safer.
Think: social recovery, gasless transactions, and bundled interactions—all baked in.
zkSync is also heavily focused on developer experience. Their SDKs support Solidity and other familiar tools. Deployment takes minutes. If you’ve built on Ethereum, you can build here with zero hassle.
The project’s long-term plan involves recursive scaling—Layer 3s stacked on top of zkSync. That’s the part that gets people excited. Imagine dApps spinning up their own sovereign chains while still enjoying Ethereum-level security.
#5 – Manta Pacific: Privacy Meets Performance
Manta Pacific isn’t your usual Layer 2. It focuses on privacy. It brings zero-knowledge proof tooling directly into app development, allowing devs to build privacy-preserving features with minimal lift.
It’s Ethereum-compatible, fast, and cheap. But privacy is its killer feature. Manta lets users prove ownership, actions, or identity without revealing the underlying data. This opens the door for use cases like private voting, reputation systems, and compliant KYC solutions—without giving up control.
2025 has seen Manta build strong partnerships across DeFi and gaming. Its dev community is small but growing. And with regulators cracking down on data exposure, Manta’s privacy-first approach is gaining traction.
Layer 2 Fragmentation: Problem or Feature?
As more Layer 2s go live, fragmentation becomes a problem—or a feature, depending on who you ask.
Users need to bridge between L2s. Tokens are wrapped, rewrapped, and sometimes lost in translation. But there’s progress. Shared sequencers, cross-chain messaging, and L2-native aggregators are making life easier.
Projects like Connext and Across Protocol are building tools to make L2 movement seamless. If they succeed, users might not even notice which Layer 2 they’re on.
In a few years, L2 names could fade into the background—like ISPs. You’ll use them, but you won’t really care which one you’re using.
What’s Next?
The next phase of Layer 2 isn’t just about saving on gas. It’s about unlocking stuff Ethereum couldn’t handle alone. High-frequency trading. Real-time gaming. Cheap micro-payments. On-chain identity. And yes, more memes too.
With EIP-4844 already in motion and Layer 3 frameworks coming online, 2025 may be the year Layer 2s become more than just Ethereum helpers. They’ll be the place where new use cases are born.
Final Thoughts
Layer 2s are no longer a band-aid. They’re evolving into their own ecosystems—with different values, user bases, and design goals. Whether you care about privacy, compliance, developer experience, or speed, there’s likely a Layer 2 for you in 2025.
But choosing one might not even matter soon. The best ones will integrate tightly enough that users won’t have to think about it. Just like switching apps on your phone, switching chains will be instant, invisible, and seamless.
That’s the real future of Ethereum scaling. And it’s already here.
About The Author
Name: Frasat Ali
Role: Founder & Lead Analyst at LatestCryptoInfo.com
Experience: 5+ Years in Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Markets
Specializations: Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, and Crypto Regulations
Frasat Ali is a seasoned cryptocurrency analyst with over five years of hands-on experience in blockchain technology, trading, and market research. As the founder of LatestCryptoInfo.com, he is dedicated to providing accurate, unbiased, and actionable crypto news to help investors make informed decisions. Read More
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frasataliofficial