- Ethereum’s layer-1 blockchain processed a record $480 billion in stablecoin transfers in May 2025.
- Automated bots boosted stablecoin swaps, now the top trading activity on Ethereum DEXs.
- Lower transaction fees helped Ethereum regain stablecoin market share from Layer-2 networks.
Ethereum’s mainnet is making a strong comeback in the decentralized finance space, driven by a massive increase in stablecoin transactions facilitated by trading bots.
Meanwhile, the ecosystem is shifting focus toward practical utility, with stablecoin swaps dominating decentralized exchange volumes. Circle’s USDC emerged as the most-traded asset, reflecting real-world demand for fast, reliable, and borderless payments.
How Bots and Stablecoins Are Powering Ethereum’s DeFi Resurgence in 2025
Automated bots, once criticized for exploitative trading strategies, are now recognized as crucial for enhancing liquidity and efficiency in Ethereum’s decentralized finance markets. Their activity has pushed stablecoin swaps to the forefront of DEX trading volumes, signaling a maturing market focused on stable, payment-driven transactions rather than speculative tokens.
The growing stablecoin market capitalization on Ethereum’s mainnet—up 11% in 2025—illustrates the network’s regained dominance amid intense competition from Layer-2 chains. Despite this, the combined stablecoin market on Layer-2s only shrank marginally, indicating a still-fragmented ecosystem that requires better integration and liquidity solutions.
Ethereum’s fee reduction in early 2025 played a significant role in reversing user migration trends. Lower transaction costs made the mainnet more accessible for everyday stablecoin transfers and DeFi activity, positioning Ethereum as an attractive platform for emerging markets needing reliable cross-border payment systems.
Experts believe the shift towards utility-based DeFi use cases, such as stablecoin swaps, could cement Ethereum’s future as a global settlement layer. However, overcoming technical and liquidity challenges across multiple layers remains critical to ensuring the network’s sustained leadership in decentralized finance.
Ethereum’s renewed strength in stablecoins and bot-driven liquidity highlights its enduring role in DeFi’s evolution, but the network must tackle fragmentation and costs to secure its future dominance.
“Speculative tokens come and go, but stablecoins stick because they solve real problems.” — Illia Otychenko, Lead Analyst at CEX.io
