Arbitrum #1: Leader in Revenue and DeFi Integration 🚀

As of June 14, 2025, Arbitrum has solidified its position as the leading Layer-2 (L2) Ethereum network, surpassing competitors in fee collection. Here's what is happening and why it matters for traders and investors.

Key facts

• Arbitrum Revenue: In June 2025, the network collected $989 million in fees — 15 times more than the closest competitor Optimism ($65 million).

• Secret to success:

◦ Maximum integration with DeFi protocols, such as HyperLiquid (popular DEX for leveraged trading) and GMX (decentralized exchange for spot and futures trading).

◦ Arbitrum has $2.6 billion TVL (according to DeFiLlama), making it the largest L2 ecosystem by locked value.

• Optimism SuperChain:

◦ Despite lagging, Optimism supports ambitious projects like WorldChain (Worldcoin ecosystem with 10 million users) and Base (L2 from Coinbase with $3 billion TVL).

◦ SuperChain unites 30 L2 networks (Base, WorldChain, Sony Soneium), sharing revenue with the Optimism Collective.

Why is Arbitrum leading?

1 DeFi dominance:

◦ HyperLiquid: The largest DEX for perpetual futures with a 71% market share (by trading volume). Supports trading with leverage up to 50x, attracting traders with low fees and speed. In February 2025, HyperLiquid processed billions of transactions through the bridge with Arbitrum.

◦ GMX: Leader on Arbitrum by TVL ($428 million), offering spot trading and perpetuals with leverage up to 50x. In February 2023, GMX generated $5.6 million in daily fees, surpassing Ethereum.

◦ Other projects: Uniswap, Aave, KyberSwap strengthen the Arbitrum ecosystem by attracting liquidity.

2 Technical advantage:

◦ Arbitrum uses optimistic rollups, reducing fees by 90% compared to Ethereum (average fee ~$0.1).

◦ Arbitrum Nitro and Stylus (support for programming languages like Rust) simplify development, attracting new projects.

3 Tokenomics of ARB:

◦ $ARB — governance token with a market capitalization of ~$2 billion. Fees are partially directed towards token buybacks, which may increase the price. 2025 forecast: $0.38–$0.89, 2030: $0.93–$4.74.

◦ Arbitrum DAO invests in RWA (tokenization of real assets), allocating 35 million ARB for projects with WisdomTree and Franklin Templeton.

Optimism SuperChain: a worthy competitor

• Base: L2 from Coinbase with TVL $3 billion, which surpassed Arbitrum in October 2024. Base processes transactions at <1 cent, attracting 8 million active Coinbase users.

• WorldChain: The Worldcoin network, built on OP Stack, scales for 10 million users through the World App, focusing on on-chain identity.

• Weaknesses: Optimism is losing liquidity on the main network, while Arbitrum holds $2.3 billion TVL on the main blockchain. Grant funding for Optimism has yet to convert into real revenue, unlike Arbitrum, where revenue is tied to $ARB.

Future: DeFi, NFT, and RWA

• DeFi revival: Growth in TVL in DeFi (currently $52 billion on L2) will increase demand for Arbitrum and Optimism. Arbitrum wins due to HyperLiquid and GMX, while Base and WorldChain will strengthen Optimism.

• NFT sector: Renewed interest in NFTs (like in 2021) may increase transactions on L2. Arbitrum already supports NFT marketplaces like OpenSea.

• RWA (asset tokenization):

◦ Arbitrum invests in the tokenization of real assets (real estate, bonds). WisdomTree launched 13 tokenized funds on Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism.

◦ Centrifuge tests RWA pools on Arbitrum and Base, attracting liquidity for T-bills and mortgages.

◦ The RWA market could reach $10 trillion by 2030, and L2 networks will become the backbone for transactions.

My thoughts

Arbitrum leads due to DeFi integration and real revenues ($989 million in June). HyperLiquid and GMX make the network a hub of activity, while ARB benefits from token buybacks. Optimism with SuperChain (Base, WorldChain) is not far behind, but their strategy is more focused on long-term partnerships (Coinbase, Sony).

Short-term $BTC ($105,428) and $ETH ($2,631) correlate with L2 activity. If DeFi and RWA revive, ARB could reach $0.89, and $OP could hit $1.5 by the end of 2025. But risks remain: volatility from CPI (2.5% forecast, 11.06) and geopolitics (Iran-Israel) could drop $BTC to $99,200, along with $ARB/$OP.

Forecast 🔮

• Short-term (June–July 2025):

◦ Arbitrum:

to $0.5 with rising TVL and HyperLiquid activity. Entry point: $0.335 (current price). Take profit: $0.44.

◦ Optimism: $OP to $1.2 if Base and WorldChain attract new users. Entry point: $1.0.

◦ $BTC: Rise to $110,000 with soft CPI (≤2.5%) or pullback to $99,200 with >2.5%. $ETH to $2,800, $SOL to $200.

• Medium-term (Q4 2025):

◦ Arbitrum will solidify its leadership if RWA pools (WisdomTree, Centrifuge) attract $1 billion TVL. ARB to $0.89.

◦ Optimism will catch up thanks to Base ($5 billion TVL by Q4). $OP to $1.5.

• Long-term (2030): RWA and DeFi will elevate the L2 market to $100 billion. $ARB to $0.93–$4.74, $OP to $3–$5.

• Risks:

◦ Competition from Base and Linea (ConsenSys).

◦ Macro: inflation >2.5% or recession (60% probability according to Musk).

◦ Regulation: the GENIUS Act delay may slow down stablecoins ($USDC, $USDT) that power Arbitrum.

Conclusion

Arbitrum is #1 L2 due to DeFi (HyperLiquid, GMX) and revenue ($989 million). Optimism with SuperChain (Base, WorldChain) remains a strong competitor but lags in liquidity. RWA and DeFi revival will boost both networks, but Arbitrum is closer to profitability thanks to the $ARB buyback. Look for liquidity zones ($BTC ~$99,200, $ARB ~$0.33) and do not react to the noise (Iran, Trump). The market will reward the patient! 😎 #Arbitrum #Optimism #DeFi