Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Meets Solana’s User Surge in the L1 Scalability Battle

Layer 1 blockchains are entering a more competitive and mature phase. Ethereum and Solana remain at the centre of the discussion, while new networks like Monad are adding pressure to an already crowded field. Recent data shows clear shifts in user behaviour, liquidity movement, and developer focus. 

With Ethereum rolling out its Pectra upgrade and Solana seeing strong growth in users and asset inflows, the debate around scalability and network design has become more practical than theoretical.

Solana’s Momentum in Users and Liquidity

Solana continues to strengthen its position as one of the most active Layer 1 networks. Monthly active users have climbed close to 45 million, reflecting steady growth rather than a short-lived spike. This expansion is closely linked to asset bridging, as users move funds into Solana to access decentralised finance platforms, consumer applications, and deeper liquidity.

Trading activity supports this trend. Solana has recorded extremely high transaction volumes over recent weeks, helped by ongoing improvements to its validator infrastructure. The gradual rollout of the Firedancer client has reduced performance bottlenecks and increased confidence in the network’s ability to handle sustained demand.

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Cross-chain inflows also point to growing trust. Solana remains a leading destination for bridged assets, capturing large monthly inflows compared to many other chains. Even over short timeframes, Solana’s performance often outpaces the wider market, suggesting liquidity continues to concentrate within its ecosystem. While debates around decentralisation and congestion persist, user activity remains Solana’s strongest signal.

Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade and Long-Term Strategy

Ethereum is responding to competition with a different approach. Rather than focusing on raw speed at the base layer, it is reinforcing its layered scaling model. The Pectra upgrade introduces improvements aimed at usability, validator flexibility, and rollup efficiency.

One key change is enhanced account abstraction, which simplifies how users interact with applications and manage transactions. This reduces friction without weakening security. For validators, higher effective balance limits and better coordination between execution and consensus layers improve network efficiency.

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Perhaps most importantly, Pectra significantly expands blob throughput for rollups, increasing their capacity by several multiples. This strengthens Ethereum’s role as a settlement layer while allowing Layer 2 networks to scale more effectively. Instead of competing directly with Solana on throughput, Ethereum is focusing on ecosystem depth and developer retention.

Monad’s Entry and the Shifting Layer 1 Landscape

Monad’s recent mainnet launch adds another dimension to the Layer 1 race. Built around parallel execution and full EVM compatibility, Monad aims to offer high performance without forcing developers to abandon Ethereum tooling. Its arrival shows that there is still room for new execution-layer ideas, provided they deliver clear technical benefits.

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At the same time, the broader market is consolidating. Users and liquidity are moving away from smaller chains towards a handful of networks with proven activity and infrastructure. The competition now centres on user access, developer experience, performance gains, and real liquidity migration. Asset flows increasingly reveal where confidence is building across the ecosystem.

Conclusion

Ethereum, Solana, and Monad highlight different paths within the Layer 1 scalability race. Solana leads in user activity and liquidity inflows, while Ethereum strengthens its layered strategy through the Pectra upgrade. Monad’s launch shows that innovation at the base layer is still being tested. As consolidation continues, real usage, not promises, will shape the next phase of Layer 1 competition.

For those looking to explore these evolving ecosystems, platforms such as Bitrue.com provide access to assets across major networks. Visiting Bitrue.com and registering an account can be a practical way to follow market movements as Layer 1 competition continues to evolve.

FAQ

What is Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade?

It is an Ethereum upgrade focused on usability, validator efficiency, and increased rollup capacity.

Why is Solana seeing rapid user growth?

Low fees, high throughput, and expanding applications continue to attract users and liquidity.

What is Monad trying to achieve?

Monad aims to deliver high performance while remaining compatible with Ethereum tools.

Is Layer 1 liquidity becoming more concentrated?

Yes, users and capital are increasingly moving towards a smaller group of major networks.

Does higher speed guarantee success for a blockchain?

No. Long-term success depends on users, liquidity, developer adoption, and network reliability.