Ethereum network activity is accelerating sharply, driven by a surge in new users and rising stablecoin usage, according to fresh on-chain data from Glassnode.The analytics firm reported that Ethereum’s monthly activity retention nearly doubled, signaling a wave of first-time users interacting with the network rather than just recycled activity from existing participants.New Ethereum Users Surge to Record LevelsGlassnode’s data shows that new activity retention jumped from just over 4 million to nearly 8 million addresses in one month, marking one of the strongest onboarding periods in Ethereum’s history.Activity retention tracks how many users continue to interact with the network over time, offering insight into whether growth is sustainable rather than one-off usage.“This reflects a notable influx of new wallets engaging with Ethereum, rather than activity being driven solely by existing participants,” Glassnode said.Daily Ethereum Transactions Hit All-Time HighNetwork usage has also exploded at the transaction level. According to Etherscan, Ethereum processed 2.8 million transactions in a single day, a new all-time high and a 125% increase year over year.Active addresses have more than doubled over the same period, rising from roughly 410,000 a year ago to over 1 million as of Jan. 15.Stablecoin Boom and Lower Fees Fuel GrowthMarket analysts attribute much of the surge to rapidly expanding stablecoin activity, combined with falling transaction fees as Ethereum continues shifting execution to layer-2 networks while maintaining secure settlement on layer 1.Macroeconomics outlet Milk Road said the trend highlights Ethereum’s long-term scalability strategy:“That’s the result of Ethereum pushing execution to L2s while keeping settlement secure on L1. That’s what scalable financial infrastructure actually looks like.”Analysts Turn Increasingly Bullish on ETHImproving on-chain fundamentals are boosting sentiment around Ethereum and its native token.Justin d’Anethan, head of research at Arctic Digital, said indicators that were previously oversold have flipped higher, supported by ETF inflows, stablecoin growth, and renewed institutional interest.Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, added that Ethereum staking has climbed toward 36 million ETH, tightening circulating supply while usage accelerates.“These strong on-chain fundamentals position ETH for a potential breakout as liquidity tightens and scaling upgrades continue to lower gas fees,” Ruck said.ETH Price OutlookEther recently touched a two-month high near $3,400 before consolidating around $3,300, as traders digest the surge in network activity. Several analysts suggest the combination of rising usage, sustained ETF inflows, and improving sentiment could set the stage for a decisive breakout in the near term.As Glassnode’s data shows, Ethereum’s growth is no longer just about scale—it’s increasingly about retention, real financial activity, and new users sticking around, a mix that historically supports stronger long-term price performance.
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