Why do some blockchains die?
While blockchain technology promises a decentralized future, not all projects live long enough to make it happen. Some blockchains simply die – when they run out of users, developers, or community interest. Without active participation, even the most innovative network can become empty. Poor tokenomics, security flaws, lack of vision, or simply a loss of trust can quickly shut down what was once a promising project. Even legitimate attempts can end up as unusable networks as soon as validators shut down their nodes.
Source: cointelegraph
Blockchain adoption challenges in 2025 |
Despite the advancement of some networks like Ethereum and Solana, blockchain technology still faces a number of challenges in 2025. The regulation is still unclear – countries are still trying to define the rules, and too strict or contradictory rules can slow down development. On the technical side, development tools still lack standardization, and working with different programming languages like Solidity, Rust, and Move makes it difficult for new developers to access.
There is also the problem of users – many networks have a large number of bots that participate only for rewards (airdrops), while there are few real users. This creates a false picture of activity. Infrastructure is another challenge – quality RPC services, decentralized validators, and tools that work reliably are key to the serious operation of blockchains.
For stable growth, the project also needs a community that believes in its long-term value. Also, it is important to know how to manage negative stories and maintain user trust, especially when FUD (fear, insecurity, and doubt) appears. Ethereum and Solana have shown that it is possible to overcome crises and maintain development, but this is not easy to achieve for most projects.
Source: cointelegraph
Which blockchains are still active in 2025?
As of April 2025, several blockchains are still seeing high activity and maintaining a strong community of users and developers. Among the most active are Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, Polkadot, Near, Sui, and Tron. Each of them has its own specific niche – whether it’s transaction speed, decentralized applications (DApps), scalability, interoperability, or a store of value.
Bitcoin remains crucial as digital gold, with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 trillion and a stable transaction turnover. Ethereum dominates the areas of DeFi and NFTs, and thanks to Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum, it successfully handles millions of transactions per day. Solana stands out for its speed and low cost, and is used in games and DeFi projects, although occasional technical issues continue to raise concerns.
BNB Chain attracts a large number of users due to its low fees and ease of use, mostly in DeFi and gaming, although its centralization is often discussed. Polkadot works to connect different blockchains, with stable development and support from the developer community. Near and Sui are among the newer networks that are showing rapid growth, especially in gaming and financial applications, while Tron is mainly used to transfer stablecoins like USDT.
In contrast, some former major projects such as EOS or Terra are practically inactive today. The key difference between active and inactive blockchains is day-to-day use – without users, developers, and transactions, the network quickly loses relevance.
Source: cointelegraph
Blockchains that failed – what was wrong?
Examples such as EOS and Terra show that initial enthusiasm is not enough for the long-term success of blockchain. Networks that do not have a clear utility, a stable community and continuous development lose their importance over time. EOS , for example, initially had great potential and raised as much as $4 billion through an ICO in 2017, but by 2025 the activity on the network is minimal. Governance issues and low acceptance prevented further growth.
Terra went through an even more severe fall. Its algorithmic stablecoin collapsed in 2022, causing billions of dollars to be lost and dragging the entire ecosystem into crisis. These cases show that blockchain cannot survive on hype alone – real use, security, and continuous evolution are needed.
The key difference between successful and failed blockchains often lies in the community. Active developers who build applications, users who use them, and validators who maintain the network – all together make the system resilient. Without these dynamics, even technically advanced networks quickly become irrelevant.
Source: cointelegraph
How to spot a live blockchain
There are several key indicators that reveal whether a blockchain is still active and healthy. The first is traffic and the number of transactions – if the network processes a large number of transactions on a regular basis, it means that it is being used. Low activity may indicate decreased interest or problems. The total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols is also important – if users are withdrawing funds, it can be a sign of distrust in the network.
Developmental activity is another important factor. If no new projects are being developed and developers are leaving the network, it may mean that there is no progress. The number of validators and nodes shows how decentralized and secure the network is – more validator nodes mean more resilience. Also, liquidity and the general state of the onchain economy show how active and useful the network is.
An example from April 2025 shows how projects respond to problems. The popular game Infecteddotfun switched from the Base network to Solana because Base couldn’t handle the high demand. The game had over 130,000 logins in 48 hours, which caused crowding, costly transactions, and problems in the game’s operation. The team stated that Solana offered better conditions for scaling and an engaged community. Such migrations often indicate the weaknesses of one chain and the strengths of another.
Source: cointelegraph
What brings blockchain back into use?
A blockchain that has fallen into oblivion can sometimes come back to life, but only if it finds a new meaning and incentives to use. Most importantly, there is a real need that this network can address – whether through new deployments, better scalability, lower fees, or better connections to other chains. Technical improvements and upgrades can attract users and developers again.
Various incentives such as grants, airdrops or liquidity rewards can help bring the activity back. Some projects choose to pivot to a layer-2 solution model or connect to larger, more active ecosystems to stay relevant.
But the most important factor is the community. If a project still has a group of people who believe in its value and future, there is a chance for recovery. Solana is a good example – after FTX, many wrote it off, but thanks to a persistent community and development, it has rebuilt its position.
The blockchain industry is changing rapidly. Some projects succeed, others disappear, but those that survive have community, usefulness, and the ability to adapt. Even if a network is currently inactive, it is not necessarily lost forever.
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