Key Takeaways (Executive Summary) The Capital Split: DeFi TVL is neck-and-neck (Solana $9.2B vs. Major L2 Basket $9.05B), but Ethereum L2s dominate in broad secured assets ($40.5B TVS). The RevenueKey Takeaways (Executive Summary) The Capital Split: DeFi TVL is neck-and-neck (Solana $9.2B vs. Major L2 Basket $9.05B), but Ethereum L2s dominate in broad secured assets ($40.5B TVS). The Revenue

Learn/Market Insights/Hot Topic Analysis/Solana vs. ...tablecoins)

Solana vs. Ethereum L2s: 2026 Fundamental Analysis (TVL, Revenue & Stablecoins)

Author: MEXC

Intermediate

Jan 16, 2026MEXC

#Industry Buzz #Ethereum

Key Takeaways (Executive Summary)

The Capital Split: DeFi TVL is neck-and-neck (Solana $9.2B vs. Major L2 Basket $9.05B), but Ethereum L2s dominate in broad secured assets ($40.5B TVS).
The Revenue Flip: Solana generates significantly higher chain fees ($1.03M/24h) compared to the commoditized fees of Layer 2s (~$182K).
Liquidity King: Solana holds a dominant share of Stablecoin issuance ($14B), signaling its role as a primary settlement layer for retail trading.
Metric Warning: Investors must distinguish between TVL (active DeFi money) and TVS (passive secured value) to avoid misleading comparisons.

1.Introduction: Beyond the "Single Leaderboard" Narrative

The debate of "Solana vs. Ethereum Layer 2s" is often framed as a single race. However, 2026 data reveals three separate battlegrounds: where capital is deployed, where value is secured, and where users are actually transacting.

For investors, mixing these definitions is dangerous. A high TVS (Total Value Secured) on Arbitrum does not mean the same thing as high DeFi velocity on Solana. This analysis breaks down the January 15, 2026 Snapshot to separate signal from noise.

1.1Key Terminology: Don't Get Confused

Before looking at the data, understand the "Unit of Account":

DeFi TVL (Total Value Locked): Capital actively working in DEXs and Lending (e.g., Uniswap, Raydium).
TVS (Total Value Secured): A broader metric (favored by L2BEAT) that includes bridged assets and native tokens simply "parked" on the chain. TVS is usually 3-4x higher than TVL.
UOPS (User Operations Per Second): A normalized way to count L2 activity, as one L2 transaction can bundle multiple user actions.

2.The 2026 Scorecard: Data Snapshot

Metric	Solana (L1)	Major L2 Basket	Verdict
DeFi TVL	$9.228B	~$9.05B	Tie. Active DeFi capital is comparable when aggregating top L2s.
Total Value Secured (TVS)	N/A	$40.50B (All L2s)	ETH L2 Wins. Ethereum remains the heavy anchor for secured assets.
Stablecoin Supply	$14.068B	~$10.12B	Solana Wins. Dollar liquidity prefers Solana's velocity.
Chain Fees (24h)	$1.03M	~$182K	Solana Wins. Higher monetization of blockspace.
Chain Revenue (24h)	$98k	~$172K	Mixed. Retention models differ by sequencer economics.

Methodology: Comparing Solana’s actual Dec 2025 performance against the Ethereum L2 ecosystem’s metrics using data from DefiLlama and L2BEAT.

3.Deep Dive Analysis: What the Numbers Imply

3.1 Capital Efficiency: TVL vs. TVS

If you look solely at DeFi TVL, Solana ($9.2B) and the top Ethereum L2s combined ($9.05B) are fighting a peer-to-peer battle. This suggests that for active trading and yield farming, Solana effectively rivals the entire top-tier L2 ecosystem.

However, the $40.5B TVS figure for Ethereum L2s tells a different story: Institutions and whales prefer Ethereum L2s for asset custody. They are bridging assets (ETH, WBTC) to L2s for security, even if they aren't deploying all of it into risky DeFi protocols.

3.2 The Monetization Gap

A striking divergence appears in fees. Solana generated $1.03M in fees in 24 hours, compared to just ~$182K for the L2 basket.

Why? Ethereum L2s are in a "Race to the Bottom" with blob space, drastically lowering costs to compete.
Implication: Solana is monetizing its activity better than individual L2s, which are subsidizing transactions to gain market share.

3.3 Stablecoins: The Liquidity Moat

With $14B in stablecoins vs. ~$10B on the L2 basket, Solana has become the preferred venue for "Cash." This correlates with its high chain fees—users move dollars where the execution is fastest.

The Paradox: Despite this centralization, Solana Stablecoin Supply hit $15.65B, indicating strong capital trust.

4.Risks and Caveats (DYOR)

Metric Mismatch: Never compare Solana's "Transactions" directly to L2 "UOPS." They are different units. UOPS measures intent, while Transactions measure execution.
Aggregation Bias: Comparing one chain (Solana) to a "Basket" of 5+ chains hides the fact that individual L2s (like Base or Arbitrum) are smaller than Solana individually.
Snapshot Volatility: These numbers are from Jan 15, 2026. Crypto flows are highly reflexive and can change weekly.

5.FAQ: Understanding the 2026 Landscape

Q: Who is winning in 2026: Solana or Ethereum L2s?

A: It depends on the metric. Solana is winning on Revenue, Stablecoin Liquidity, and Retail Activity. Ethereum L2s are winning on Total Value Secured (TVS) and Institutional Asset Custody.

Q: Why is Ethereum L2 TVS higher than DeFi TVL?

A: TVS (Total Value Secured) includes all assets bridged to the L2, even if they are just sitting in a wallet. DeFi TVL only counts assets actively deposited into smart contracts (like Uniswap or Aave).

Q: Why are Solana fees higher than Layer 2s?

A: Solana's fees reflect a monolithic market for blockspace where high demand drives revenue. Layer 2s benefit from Ethereum's "Blob" upgrades, which artificially suppressed L2 fees to near-zero levels.

Data Sources & References:

Solana Network Metrics: DefiLlama
Layer 2 TVL & Risk Analysis: L2BEAT TVS
On-Chain Activity & TPS: L2BEAT Activity
Stablecoin Market Cap: DefiLlama Stablecoins

Disclaimer:

This information does not provide advice on investment, taxation, legal, financial, accounting, or any other related services, nor does it constitute advice to purchase, sell, or hold any assets. MEXC Learn provides information for reference purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved and exercise caution when investing. The platform is not responsible for users' investment decisions.

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