In 2025, amid the overall weak performance of tokens, the functional differentiation of layer one blockchains is very evident. Solana and BNB Chain dominated speculative, high-throughput meme coin activities, with Solana's decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume hitting an all-time high in January. Ethereum consolidated its position as a settlement layer, while second-layer blockchains like Base processed over 3.3 billion transactions, with mainnet fees dropping to a low of nearly $0.19. Stablecoins became a key driving force, with total market capitalization growing by approximately 45%, giving rise to specialized 'stable chains' like Plasma. Privacy-focused blockchains like Zcash (which has seen an increase of up to 661% since the beginning of the year) and performance-optimized networks like Monad highlight the trend of specialization in underlying blockchains.