Onchain Fees to Hit $19.8B in 2025, Says 1kx

Onchain fees have reached $9.7 billion in the first half of 2025, with a full-year projection standing at $19.8 billion, according to research from 1kx. This indicates rising real-world usage beyond speculation.

This data suggests that the crypto space is entering a more mature phase, where blockchains are facilitating genuine activity—like gaming, DeFi, payments, and infrastructure—rather than merely serving as speculative investment vehicles.

Signs of Real Network Usage

The growth in onchain fees is not just about rising token prices or congestion. Instead, it reflects consistent user activity, with millions of daily transactions across Ethereum, Layer 2s, Solana, and emerging networks.

Protocols generating significant fee volumes include Ethereum mainnet, Arbitrum, Optimism, Solana, and Base. DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and stablecoin transfers are major contributors, pointing to diverse and sustainable onchain ecosystems taking shape.

According to 1kx, this surge in fee revenue is a key signal of market maturity. “Fee generation at this scale shows that people are using crypto networks for actual services,” the firm noted. This separates current growth from the purely speculative bubbles seen in past cycles.

What This Means for Investors and Builders

For long-term investors, the rise in onchain fee revenue may be an indicator of network value and strength. In traditional finance, consistent cash flow is a positive metric—this logic is increasingly applying to crypto.

For developers and founders, high fee revenues also suggest there’s a real market willing to pay for services. This strengthens the case for building new dApps, improving UX, and investing in infrastructure upgrades to meet demand.

As 2025 progresses, all eyes will be on whether the second half of the year continues this trend—or if macro factors and market volatility slow things down. Either way, the data signals a maturing ecosystem built on actual usage, not just hype.