In February 2025, gaming activity on certain layer-2 blockchains skyrocketed by more than 20,000%, even as the count of daily unique active wallets (dUAWs) experienced a decline.
Abstract, an Ethereum layer-2 blockchain created by Igloo, the organization behind the NFT series Pudgy Penguins, topped the chart with an astonishing growth of over 20,000% in daily active unique wallets (dAUWs). Soneium, Sony’s Ethereum L2 blockchain, followed closely with an impressive increase of over 3,200%, while Linea secured third place with a growth rate exceeding 1,000%.
Monthly growth of unique active wallets across blockchains.
The surge in activity for Abstract and Soneium was primarily driven by two notable games: Treasure Ship on Abstract, which boasts around 72,000 unique active wallets, and Evermoon on Soneium, attracting approximately 32,000 unique active wallets.
Despite this remarkable increase in gaming activity on layer-2 solutions, the overall count of dUAWs fell by 16% compared to January, landing at roughly 5.8 million. The analysis indicates that while blockchain gaming has traditionally commanded a significant market presence, shifting economic conditions have redirected investor attention back towards DeFi. With market instability prompting traders to withdraw from positions, DeFi has now emerged as the leading sector.
When it comes to gaming activity based on dUAWs, the most prominent blockchains include opBNB, a layer-2 built atop the BNB Smart Chain; Aptos, an independent layer-1 blockchain tailored for decentralized applications; and Nebula, a chain within the Skale network.
Furthermore, blockchain gaming investments surged to $55 million in February, representing a remarkable 243% increase since January, with 92% of the capital directed towards infrastructure advancement.
Year-over-Year Growth in Blockchain Gaming Activity Faces Continued Hurdles
As previously reported, blockchain gaming saw a substantial year-over-year increase in February, with daily unique active wallets climbing by 386% to reach 7 million. This sharp rise led many in the industry to speculate about a possible blockchain gaming bull run in 2025, although that possibility is now being reconsidered.
One noteworthy title that has highlighted the incorporation of blockchains in gaming is “Off The Grid.” This game, which intends to utilize an Avalanche subnet, achieved over 100 million transactions within its first month.
Nevertheless, the sector is not without its difficulties. Gunzilla Games’ Web3 director Theodore Agranat noted that there is “no new money coming into the system,” suggesting that existing resources are merely being rotated among gaming projects.
“Participants will transition from one project to another, extracting whatever value they can,” he remarked. “Once there’s no more value to be harvested, they will shift their focus to a different project.”
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