Ethereum Year-End Sprint: Single-day transaction count hits a new record of 1.87 million, surpassing the 2021 bull market peak

Ethereum’s network reached a milestone on the last day of 2025. According to the latest news, the 7-day moving average of transaction count on the Ethereum network hit 1.87 million transactions on December 31, setting a new all-time high. This data not only broke Ethereum’s record but also surpassed the peak levels seen during the NFT and DeFi boom in 2021. At this year-end moment, this set of data reflects the strong demand within the Ethereum ecosystem and the market’s continued optimism for this blockchain.

Transaction Count Hits Record High, Surpassing Historical Peak

The 1.87 million transactions on December 31 represent a significant increase compared to key historical periods:

This indicates that Ethereum’s current network activity has surpassed the peak during the 2021 bull run, driven by NFT and DeFi activity. Notably, this new high is not a fleeting spike but is built on a relatively stable network foundation.

Network Health Indicators Also Reach New Highs

In addition to transaction count, other on-chain metrics for Ethereum are also hitting new seasonal highs at year-end, further confirming the network’s robust activity:

• Active Addresses: 728,904, the highest level since May 12, 2021
• Daily New Addresses: 270,160, the largest single-day increase since early 2018

The significance of these figures lies in the fact that not only is transaction volume increasing, but the number of active users and new participants is also growing substantially. The record high in new addresses over an 8-year span is especially noteworthy, indicating a large influx of new users into the Ethereum ecosystem at year-end.

Three Major Drivers Support Network Activity

According to analysis by research firm LVRG Research, the increase in Ethereum’s activity is mainly driven by three factors:

• Effects of Network Upgrades: Recent technical upgrades have significantly reduced transaction fees and improved scalability, encouraging more users to interact on-chain
• Institutional Capital Inflows: The launch of Ethereum spot ETFs has attracted participation from traditional financial institutions, bringing new funds and users
• RWA Tokenization Boom: The on-chain tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is increasing, attracting enterprise and institutional users

The combined effect of these three factors has propelled Ethereum’s network activity to new heights.

Price Performance and Capital Inflows Confirm Market Optimism

The rise in network activity is also reflected in market data. According to reports, Ethereum experienced a net inflow of $4.2 billion in 2025, ranking first among all public chains, demonstrating sustained institutional and investor confidence in Ethereum.

From a price perspective, Ethereum broke above $3,000 at year-end, currently trading around $3,053, with a 24-hour increase of 2.53%. This steady price performance aligns well with the record-high network activity.

Future Directions to Watch

Based on current data, Ethereum is likely to maintain its strength into 2026. Key considerations include:

• Ongoing infrastructure improvements enabling more applications
• Increased institutional participation enhancing market stability
• Early-stage growth in new sectors like RWA, with significant growth potential

Additionally, historical data shows that Ethereum’s average return in January is 20.63%, providing a reference for the new year’s performance. However, it is important to note that high network activity does not necessarily guarantee price increases; macroeconomic factors and policy changes should also be monitored.

Summary

The new record of 1.87 million transactions on December 31, 2025, is not just a numerical milestone but also a reflection of the maturity of the Ethereum ecosystem and genuine market demand. The synchronized growth in active addresses and new addresses further confirms that this is not merely transaction volume accumulation but real user growth and ecosystem prosperity. The triple drivers of technological upgrades, institutional participation, and RWA applications lay a foundation for Ethereum’s continued performance in 2026. Of course, high network activity is only one aspect of market prosperity; subsequent focus should also be on price trends and application innovation to sustain growth.