Layer-1 networks are busy rolling out their 2026 roadmaps.
With 2025 highlighting a clear divergence between price action and fundamentals, devs. Focus is shifting. Ultimately, volatility has reinforced a key lesson: Over the long run, fundamentals matter more than speculation.
Building on this momentum, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of the Ethereum [ETH] network, welcomed 2026 with a renewed emphasis on Ethereum’s “decentralization,” paired with a stronger focus on real-world applications.
The big question is whether this approach actually paid off in 2025.
Fundamentally, Ethereum had its strongest operational year yet, with record transaction volumes, major network upgrades, a sustained 50%+ share of DeFi, and a sharp 212% jump in total RWA value.
That said, the growth came with trade-offs. According to Growthpie data, L2 networks saw a 53% drop in earnings, which weighed on Ethereum’s revenue model and translated into nearly $100 million in lost income.
In essence, network expansion weakened Ethereum’s balance sheet as gas fees declined. This puts Vitalik’s decentralization thesis under scrutiny. If revenues stay compressed, can Ethereum still deliver on its roadmap?
Decentralization push fuels long-term Ethereum value
Ethereum’s 2025 fundamental-driven approach has divided investors.
On one hand, the growing gap between technicals and on-chain data favors commitment over short-term speculation, which clearly hurts STHs. ETH’s 2025 ROI ended with a 10.97% loss, justifying this caution.
On the other hand, some argue that Ethereum’s lower costs and higher capacity will eventually offset lost revenue as more apps are built, with JPMorgan’s recent tokenization on Ethereum serving as a strong example.
Looking ahead, 2026 may widen this divide.
The outcome? Deeper long-term commitment. Ethereum closed 2025 with exchange reserves down 20% to 16.6 million, despite volatile price action, highlighting how fundamentals are starting to outweigh speculation.
Now, with Vitalik hinting at an even stronger push for decentralization, the network is setting the stage for long-term value creation. Over time, this could help offset volatility, supporting Tom Lee’s 2026 ETH projections.
Final Thoughts
- 2025 saw Ethereum record network growth, but L2 revenue drops and lower gas fees pressured the balance sheet.
- Despite short-term losses, lower fees, higher capacity, and moves like JPMorgan’s tokenization set the stage for stronger ETH value in 2026.
