1️⃣EigenLayer
Restaking lets ETH work twice, unlocking new yield and security markets on Ethereum. Integrations are accelerating and the narrative is red hot for 2025. If you want asymmetric upside in core infra, this is the top watch.
- First-mover in restaking
- Huge yield narratives
- Strong developer momentum
- Backed by top investors
- Massive integration pipeline
- Ethereum aligned
- Token mechanics still evolving
- Smart-contract risk on restaked collateral
- Regulatory uncertainty
2️⃣Solana
High-throughput, low-fee blockspace that actually ships consumer apps. From payments to memecoins, activity and liquidity are surging. If retail comes back in force, Solana captures it fast.
- High throughput and low fees
- Exploding consumer demand
- Active DeFi and memecoin cycles
- Growing developer base
- Strong brand and liquidity
- Past network outages linger
- More centralized hardware requirements
- Ecosystem still sensitive to hype cycles
3️⃣Celestia
Modular data availability is reshaping how rollups launch and scale. Celestia cuts costs for builders and opens a path to thousands of app-chains. Adoption is early, but integrations are stacking up.
- Clear product-market fit for modular DA
- Strong research team
- Multiple rollups integrating
- Capital-efficient for builders
- Enterprise adoption not proven
- Token emissions can pressure price
- Competing DA layers crowd the narrative
- Tooling still maturing
4️⃣Chainlink
The default oracle and cross-chain data layer powering DeFi and RWAs. CCIP adds new pipes for value flow that could open real fee capture. It is a slow burner, but dominance matters.
- Dominant oracle market share
- New revenue vectors via CCIP and RWA
- Deep integrations across chains
- Enterprise partnerships
- Governance and fee switch timelines unclear
- Staking access limited
- Perceived centralization of oracle sets
5️⃣Base
Coinbase-backed Ethereum L2 with native onramps and a fast-growing app ecosystem. It is built for mainstream adoption and brand trust converts users. Growth is real, but the stack is still centralized today.
- Mass retail onramps via Coinbase
- Strong brand trust
- Rapid daily active user growth
- Affordable fees
- Centralized sequencer and governance
- Heavy US compliance exposure
- MEV and bridging risks
- Reliant on Ethereum for security and data availability