Base emerged as the clear leader among Ethereum layer-2 networks on January 14, generating about $147,000 in daily transaction fees and capturing close to 70 percent of all L2 fee revenue for the day.
The figures highlight a growing concentration of activity on one scaling network, as most other Ethereum layer-2 chains struggled to generate even modest fee income over the same 24-hour period.
Arbitrum ranked a distant second with roughly $39,000 in fees, followed by Starknet at around $9,000. Beyond those three, fee generation dropped sharply. Linea brought in about $4,500, Optimism $2,400, Unichain $2,000, Ink $1,500, zkSync $900, and Scroll roughly $600. Collectively, all remaining Ethereum L2s earned just over $15,000, underscoring how wide the gap has become between the leading network and the rest of the field.
Debate Over Comparisons With Polygon
The data quickly sparked discussion online after some analysts noted that Polygon recorded approximately $155,000 in daily fees on the same day, slightly more than Base. That comparison raised questions about classification, as Polygon operates a broader ecosystem that includes a long-running proof-of-stake chain as well as newer zero-knowledge scaling products.
Because Polygon’s reported revenue often reflects activity across its entire ecosystem, it is not always grouped strictly with Ethereum layer-2 networks. That distinction is central to understanding why Base appeared dominant in Ethereum L2-specific rankings, even if it was not the highest-earning chain overall.
Looking across all blockchains, Tron led daily fee revenue by a wide margin with more than $1 million, followed by Polygon, Base, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, and Arbitrum. Within Ethereum-aligned networks, however, Base still ranked near the top.
Why Base Continues to Attract Activity
Base’s momentum may be tied to its growing role as a consumer-facing on-chain platform. A recently launched application built on Base is now available in more than 140 countries and introduces tokenized posts and digital assets that can be traded directly from a social-style feed. The app allows users to earn from engagement and settle rewards instantly on-chain, creating a steady flow of transactions.
While there is no official breakdown linking the app’s usage directly to daily fee totals, the timing aligns with Base’s rising activity levels. Compared with other Ethereum layer-2 networks that lack similar mainstream-facing applications, Base appears to be benefiting from a stronger pipeline of everyday users, helping it pull further ahead in fee generation.