Polygon leads in EVM efficiency as DeFi users favor low transaction costs

Layer-1 blockchains are foundational networks supporting various applications directly on their protocol, while Layer-2 blockchains operate atop these foundational layers, enhancing scalability and efficiency. Comparing the usage and efficiency of EVM-compatible L1 and L2 blockchains and side chains helps us better understand the market values and where most of the DeFi activity comes from.

Dune Analytics data analyzed by CryptoSlate showed Polygon, a Layer-2 sidechain, was the leading figure in the DeFi ecosystem, closely followed by BNB Chain, an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain.

One of the most important metrics when analyzing L1s and L2s is the daily gas usage—the computational effort required to execute operations on the blockchain. Gas fees are paid in native blockchain currencies, and high gas usage typically indicates robust network activity. Notably, when L2 solutions maintain high gas usage at low USD costs, it reflects an efficient scaling solution that makes transactions affordable without sacrificing blockchain activity.

Polygon utilizes an average of 579.97 billion units of native gas daily, with associated costs amounting to just $65.48k. This translates to a meager average of $0.76 in USD per second despite processing a high volume of 48.37 transactions per second. Each transaction on Polygon costs about 138,782 gas units. BNB Mainnet, while also high in transaction volume, shows a different cost structure with 454.89 billion units of native gas used daily and $1.02 million in daily USD fees; the cost per second soars to $11.81, far surpassing Polygon’s. The higher cost per transaction, which averages 108,513 gas units, reflects BNB’s heavier computational demand per transaction, suggesting a more resource-intensive operation than Polygon.