Ethereum Mainnet May Hit 10,000 TPS by 2031 with L2 Growth

• Ethereum Mainnet scaling: From 18.6 TPS today to 10,000 TPS by 2031, a 537x increase.

• Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum lead in activity, processing millions of transactions monthly with low fees.

• Optimism and ZKSync contribute to ecosystem momentum, securing billions in value and driving revenue growth.

Ethereum scaling to 10,000 TPS by 2031: Discover how layer 2 solutions boost throughput, cut costs, and transform the network. Explore growth trends and future impacts now.

How Will Ethereum Achieve 10,000 TPS by 2031?

Ethereum scaling to 10,000 TPS by 2031 relies on the expansion of layer 2 solutions and protocol upgrades like Danksharding and data availability sampling. The Mainnet currently averages 18.6 TPS, requiring a 537-fold increase to meet this target, achieved through consistent annual improvements tripling capacity.

What Drives Growth in Ethereum’s Layer 2 Ecosystem?

The Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem thrives on innovations from networks like Arbitrum One, which recorded 3.56 million transactions and 242,780 active addresses from May to November 2025. This platform dominates DeFi with 28.93% activity share and secures $16.34 billion in total value, generating $363,710 in revenue. Supporting data from analytics platforms highlight a stablecoin supply of $7.91 billion, underscoring its efficiency.

Ethereum’s L2s are exploding in activity, and L1 is next.

Mainnet is expected to scale from 18.6 TPS today to over 10,000 TPS by 2031.

A 500x+ increase in capacity.

This growth will come from upgrades like Danksharding, data availability sampling, and execution… pic.twitter.com/Ty5yEz91Ut

— Leon Waidmann (@LeonWaidmann) November 5, 2025

Arbitrum One’s leadership in utility applications, holding 21.22% share, and overall 14.88% of transactions across the ecosystem, demonstrates its pivotal role. On-chain metrics reveal robust performance, with $361,000 in on-chain profit, emphasizing sustainable growth.

Arbitrum dominates DeFi in terms of utility and transactions. Source: GrowThePie

Optimism Mainnet has shown steady advancement, with 38,500 active addresses and 2.03 million transactions from August to November 2025. Its average throughput reaches 8.3 Mgas/s, securing $2.75 billion in value and maintaining a $653.67 million stablecoin supply. Application income stands at $142,480, reflecting increasing adoption.

ZKSync’s developments further accelerate the Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised ZKSync’s contributions, noting its underrated yet valuable work. On October 31, ZKSync co-founder Alex Gluchowski announced the Atlas upgrade, promising near-zero costs, over 15,000 TPS, and one-second ZK finality.

“ZKsync has been doing a lot of underrated and valuable work in the Ethereum ecosystem. Excited to see this come from them!”

–Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum Co-founder.

Gluchowski detailed how Atlas minimizes latency between layer 1 and layer 2 to below an Ethereum block’s finality time, and inter-layer 2 latency to about one second. This enables Ethereum to serve as the primary liquidity hub for institutional and real-world asset transactions, eliminating the need for separate centers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current transaction speed of Ethereum Mainnet?

Ethereum Mainnet currently processes an average of 18.6 transactions per second, based on recent blockchain data. This marks a significant improvement from 0.71 TPS in 2015, representing a 26.2-fold increase over the decade.

How do layer 2 networks reduce Ethereum transaction costs?

Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism slash costs to $0.0031 per transfer, compared to $0.7023 on Mainnet. They handle high volumes off the main chain while inheriting its security, making transactions faster and more affordable for users and developers alike.

Key Takeaways

• Ethereum’s scaling trajectory: Mainnet aims for 10,000 TPS by 2031 through layer 2 expansion and upgrades, tripling capacity annually.
• Arbitrum’s dominance: Leads with 3.56 million transactions and $16.34 billion secured, driving DeFi and utility activity.
• ZKSync innovations: Atlas upgrade enables 15,000+ TPS at minimal cost, positioning Ethereum as an institutional liquidity center.

Ethereum Mainnet targets massive 10,000 TPS by 2031. Source: GrowThePie

Conclusion

Ethereum scaling to 10,000 TPS by 2031, propelled by the layer 2 ecosystem’s growth in networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and ZKSync, promises enhanced scalability and reduced costs. With sustained on-chain activity reaching peaks of 5,513 TPS and $41.8 million in revenue, where layer 2s contribute 15.73%, the network maintains security and decentralization. As advancements like Atlas continue to minimize latency and boost throughput, Ethereum solidifies its role in decentralized finance—stay informed on these developments to leverage future opportunities.