1️⃣EigenLayer
Restaking lets you reuse staked ETH to secure new services, stacking rewards on top of base yields. The ecosystem is onboarding top teams and launching Actively Validated Services at a fast clip. If adoption keeps compounding, early users could capture outsized upside.
- Restake ETH to chase multiple reward streams
- Explosive developer momentum and integrations
- Blue-chip backers and deep liquidity
- Clear product market fit for data
- AI
- and oracle AVSs
- Strong network effects building quickly
- Smart contract and slashing risk remain
- Token mechanics and timelines can shift
- Strategy complexity for newcomers
2️⃣Solana
High-speed, low-fee chain powering viral consumer apps, DeFi, and memecoins. Network effects and a mobile-first push keep onboarding new users. If volumes stay hot, projects on Solana can scale revenue fast.
- Ultra-low fees and high throughput
- Booming consumer and DeFi ecosystem
- Strong mobile and payments footprint
- Massive liquidity and active market makers
- Growing institutional interest
- Occasional congestion during hype spikes
- Validator hardware is demanding
- Ecosystem can be volatile
3️⃣Celestia
Modular data availability that slashes rollup costs and accelerates L2 launches. As rollups multiply, demand for cheap DA could surge. Still early for mainstream adoption.
- Purpose-built data availability
- Low-cost rollups via a modular stack
- Expanding partner rollup ecosystem
- Strong research pedigree
- Token unlocks and emissions can pressure price
- End user demand depends on rollup success
- Tooling and UX still maturing
- Competition from other DA layers
4️⃣Starknet
ZK rollup with strong security inherited from Ethereum and a unique programming model via Cairo. If ZK performance improves, developers could ship powerful apps. The learning curve is real but the upside is meaningful.
- Ethereum-grade security via ZK proofs
- Cairo enables advanced use cases
- Large grants and ecosystem funds
- Active research roadmap
- Cairo learning curve for developers
- Throughput and fees can fluctuate
- Tooling fragmentation versus EVM
- User onboarding not yet seamless
5️⃣Injective
Orderbook-focused L1 for fast derivatives and DeFi strategies, built with Cosmos tech. Growing apps and an MEV-resistant design attract pro traders. Liquidity depth still varies by market and region.
- Low-latency orderbook architecture
- Cross-chain access via IBC
- MEV-resistant design benefits traders
- Active builder community
- Derivatives face regulatory headwinds in some regions
- Liquidity concentration on top pairs
- Fiat onramps are uneven
- Ecosystem smaller than top L1s