Layer 1 Coins List: 15 Blockchain Projects Making Waves in 2025

Understanding the Foundations of Blockchain Technology

The cryptocurrency ecosystem stands on a critical infrastructure layer known as Layer 1. These base-layer blockchains handle all core transaction processing, security validation, and network consensus without relying on external systems. Unlike higher-level solutions that build upon existing chains to improve speed or efficiency, Layer 1 networks operate as completely independent systems with their own security models and validation mechanisms.

What makes Layer 1 blockchains indispensable? They guarantee decentralization, immutability, and transparent transaction processing. Each network maintains its own consensus protocol—whether that’s Proof of Work, Proof of Stake, or novel mechanisms—ensuring that no single entity controls transaction validation. Moreover, Layer 1 networks support native cryptocurrencies that power transaction costs, validator incentives, and governance participation.

The Competitive Landscape: Why Layer 1 Matters for 2025

As secondary blockchain protocols continue evolving to address throughput concerns, Layer 1 networks remain the security bedrock of Web3. The relationship between base-layer and secondary protocols is symbiotic: while higher layers improve transaction speed, they fundamentally depend on Layer 1’s security guarantees and finality.

Looking at 2025, several Layer 1 coins list contenders demonstrate exceptional growth trajectories and ecosystem maturity. These networks showcase distinct competitive advantages—from raw transaction speed to innovative consensus mechanisms.

Top Layer 1 Blockchains to Monitor

Solana: The Speed Champion

Current Performance:

• Price: $123.95
• 1-Year Change: -37.25%
• Market Cap: $69.74B

Solana continues proving its reputation as a high-throughput powerhouse. The network’s Proof of History consensus combined with Proof of Stake creates an architectural advantage for processing thousands of transactions per second at minimal cost. The SOL token fuels network operations through transaction fees, validator staking, and governance mechanisms.

The Solana ecosystem expanded dramatically through 2023-2024 with the introduction of formal improvement protocols (SIMDs), major validator upgrades via Firedancer, and a thriving community of decentralized applications spanning DeFi, NFTs, and mobile integration. Strategic partnerships with infrastructure providers like Google Cloud and AWS strengthened network accessibility.

Avalanche: Rapid Finality Protocol

Current Performance:

• Price: $12.47
• 1-Year Change: -69.05%
• Market Cap: $5.36B

Avalanche distinguishes itself through sub-two-second transaction finality and a hybrid consensus model merging Classical and Nakamoto approaches. The AVAX token serves as fuel for network fees, staking participation, and access to its multiple subnet architecture.

Recent network dynamics show explosive growth in transaction volume driven by inscription protocols and token minting activity. Daily transaction counts have surged to multi-million levels, with corresponding increases in network fees reflecting genuine ecosystem demand. The C-Chain’s record-breaking throughput demonstrates the network’s capacity to handle diverse use cases simultaneously.

Bitcoin: The Immutable Standard

Current Performance:

• Price: $88.65K
• 1-Year Change: -10.80%
• Market Cap: $1,770.12B

Bitcoin remains the most recognized and adopted Layer 1 blockchain worldwide. Introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, it established the foundational principles of decentralized digital currency through Proof of Work security. BTC’s fixed 21 million supply and immutable transaction history position it as digital store of value.

The Bitcoin ecosystem evolved significantly with the introduction of Ordinals protocol enabling NFT minting directly on-chain, and the emergence of secondary protocols like Stacks and Lightning Labs’ Taproot Assets. These innovations opened new possibilities for smart contract functionality while maintaining Bitcoin’s security guarantees. Periodic halving events continue to influence token scarcity dynamics and network security economics.

The Open Network: Telegram-Backed Infrastructure

Current Performance:

• Price: $1.53
• 1-Year Change: -74.18%
• Market Cap: $3.76B

The Open Network (TON) originated from Telegram’s vision for a decentralized platform before transitioning to independent community governance via the TON Foundation. The blockchain employs sharding architecture to manage high transaction volumes while maintaining security.

TON gained significant utility following Telegram’s announcement to distribute 50% of advertising revenue through Toncoin transactions in 2024. This integration of blockchain technology into a platform with hundreds of millions of users represents a pivotal moment for practical cryptocurrency adoption. Future potential includes deeper integration with Telegram services if the platform pursues public listing.

Internet Computer: On-Chain Computing Vision

Current Performance:

• Price: $3.04
• 1-Year Change: -72.86%
• Market Cap: $1.66B

The Internet Computer (ICP), developed by DFINITY Foundation, reimagines blockchain’s purpose beyond transactions—enabling entire software systems to run directly on-chain. The ICP token facilitates transaction processing, validator rewards, and protocol governance through the Network Nervous System.

Technological breakthroughs including WebSocket integration for real-time applications, HTTPS outcalls to Web 2.0 services, and direct Bitcoin network integration expanded ICP’s capabilities. The ecosystem grew through decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) tooling improvements and a surge in community-driven projects ranging from social platforms to trading applications.

Sei: Specialized DeFi Infrastructure

Current Performance:

• Price: $0.11
• 1-Year Change: -75.49%
• Market Cap: $724.41M

Sei emerged as purpose-built infrastructure for decentralized finance applications, specifically optimizing order book functionality and reducing latency in trading environments. The SEI token enables transaction access, governance, and staking within this specialized ecosystem.

The network’s growth strategy emphasized geographic expansion into Asian markets while securing substantial ecosystem funding ($120 million fund with Foresight Ventures contribution). Chain-level optimizations enhanced decentralized exchange performance, making Sei an attractive platform for finance-focused developers building high-speed trading protocols.

Sui: Modern Execution Engine

Current Performance:

• Price: $1.41
• 1-Year Change: -68.76%
• Market Cap: $5.26B

Sui attracts developers through innovative architecture centered on the Move programming language and parallel transaction execution. The SUI token manages network fees, governance participation, and future utility functions as the ecosystem matures.

Post-mainnet launch on major exchanges, Sui demonstrated scalability with record transaction volumes exceeding 65 million daily transactions. Revolutionary features like zkLogin enhanced privacy through Web 2.0 social authentication. Growth initiatives through programs like TurboStar accelerated ecosystem project fundraising and community building with investor protection measures.

Aptos: Parallel Processing Breakthrough

Current Performance:

• Price: $1.69
• 1-Year Change: -82.30%
• Market Cap: $1.27B

Aptos distinguishes itself through parallel execution engines enabling massively scalable transaction throughput. The APT token serves transaction and governance functions within a network backed by premium investors including Tiger Global and PayPal Ventures.

Strategic partnerships expanded ecosystem utility across gaming, commerce, and financial services through integrations with major platforms like Microsoft and collaborations with industry leaders. Infrastructure improvements including NFT indexing services and multi-signature security solutions strengthened the developer experience. The introduction of digital asset standards positioned Aptos for real-world application integration.

Polkadot: Multi-Chain Orchestration

Polkadot functions as a coordinating layer enabling independent blockchains (parachains) to share security infrastructure while maintaining autonomy. The DOT token powers governance decisions, network staking, and parachain bonding.

The network recorded historic developer engagement with nearly 20,000 GitHub contributions in peak months. Innovations including low-cost parachreads and next-generation scheduling enhanced network efficiency. The announced Polkadot 2.0 upgrade promises significant improvements in scalability, governance mechanisms, and cross-chain interoperability.

Cosmos: Interchain Communication Protocol

Current Performance:

• Price: $2.02
• 1-Year Change: -70.86%
• Market Cap: $981.40M

Cosmos addresses blockchain fragmentation through Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol enabling sovereign blockchains to interact trustlessly. The ATOM token secures the network through delegated staking and participates in governance.

Network activity surged with average daily transactions reaching 500,000+ and substantial trading volumes. The Theta upgrade introduced cross-chain accounts while the Rho upgrade added liquid staking and NFT modules. Interchain Foundation’s multi-million dollar allocation for 2024-2025 development signals strong institutional support for the ecosystem’s expansion.

Ethereum: The Established Ecosystem Leader

Current Performance:

• Price: $2.97K
• 1-Year Change: -15.05%
• Market Cap: $358.21B

Ethereum remains the dominant Layer 1 blockchain hosting thousands of decentralized applications across DeFi, NFTs, and digital assets. Vitalik Buterin and collaborators created a programmable platform enabling developers to deploy applications without central intermediaries.

The ecosystem’s evolution toward Ethereum 2.0 focused on scalability, security, and sustainability improvements. Secondary blockchain protocols built on Ethereum’s infrastructure now process substantial transaction volumes while inheriting its security guarantees. The transition to Proof of Stake consensus reduced energy consumption while Layer 2 solutions address throughput limitations. Continuous protocol enhancements and expanding developer tooling maintain Ethereum’s technological leadership.

BNB Chain: Exchange-Backed Infrastructure

Current Performance:

• Price: $840.20
• 1-Year Change: +19.60%
• Market Cap: $115.72B

BNB Chain, originally launched as Binance Smart Chain, evolved into a comprehensive blockchain platform supporting over 1,300 active decentralized applications. The dual-chain architecture enables seamless asset transfers between networks while maintaining separate security models.

The rebranding from “BSC” to “BNB Chain” reflected expansion beyond exchange integration toward independent DeFi and NFT ecosystems. The introduction of a separate Proof of Stake chain enhanced decentralization and governance capabilities. Cross-chain bridge expansions improved interoperability, positioning BNB Chain as a hub within the broader blockchain ecosystem.

Kava: Cosmos-EVM Hybrid

Current Performance:

• Price: $0.08
• 1-Year Change: -84.05%
• Market Cap: $82.79M

Kava bridges Cosmos scalability with Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility through innovative co-chain architecture. This design enables Ethereum developers to leverage Kava’s features while maintaining ecosystem familiarity.

Network upgrades including Kava 12 and 13 optimized protocol flexibility and user experience. The “Kava Tokenomics 2.0” transition introduced fixed token supply mechanisms encouraging scarcity-driven adoption. Strategic stablecoin integrations and a community-owned strategic vault with over $300 million in assets deepened ecosystem liquidity and decentralization.

ZetaChain: The Omnichain Vision

Current Performance:

• Price: $0.07
• 1-Year Change: -88.81%
• Market Cap: $80.43M

ZetaChain introduced true omnichain capabilities enabling seamless interactions across any blockchain architecture. Unlike traditional bridges requiring centralized intermediaries, ZetaChain enables direct cross-chain smart contract execution.

Launched in 2023, the network rapidly scaled with 1 million+ testnet users from 100+ countries and over 6.3 million cross-chain transactions. Strategic partnerships with infrastructure providers like Ankr Protocol and entertainment platforms like BYTE CITY expanded real-world utility. Continued funding rounds including $27 million injections demonstrate investor confidence in the interoperability thesis.

The Layer 1 and Secondary Protocol Relationship

As blockchain technology matures, Layer 1 and secondary protocol solutions evolve in complementary directions. While secondary solutions enhance performance and transaction speed, they remain dependent on Layer 1 networks for security guarantees and transaction finality.

This symbiotic relationship drives innovation in both domains: Layer 1 improvements like sharding enhance secondary protocol performance, while successful secondary protocol implementations inform Layer 1 architectural upgrades. The ongoing development reflects blockchain technology’s journey toward mainstream adoption requiring balanced security, decentralization, scalability, and speed.

Conclusion: Layer 1 Coins List for Strategic 2025 Positioning

Layer 1 blockchains form the irreplaceable foundation of Web3 infrastructure. Each Layer 1 coins list entry contributes unique technical capabilities and ecosystem strengths—from Bitcoin’s unmatched security heritage to Solana’s raw throughput capacity to Ethereum’s unrivaled developer ecosystem.

The competitive dynamics among Layer 1 networks continue intensifying through 2025, with each blockchain pursuing distinct positioning strategies. Success requires balancing technical innovation with ecosystem cultivation and real-world utility integration. The symbiotic relationship between Layer 1 networks and secondary protocols ensures continued evolution toward more scalable, secure, and user-friendly blockchain infrastructure supporting the digital economy’s expansion.