Two of 2024's most promising blockchain networks experienced dramatic drops in user engagement and transaction volume during early 2025. Despite generating significant buzz through viral campaigns and marketing pushes, both Ronin and ZKsync struggled to convert temporary attention into lasting ecosystem growth, raising questions about the sustainability of hype-driven blockchain adoption.
The cryptocurrency sector's first quarter of 2025 has revealed a sobering reality for blockchain networks that rode waves of viral momentum in 2024. According to recent onchain analytics, Ronin and ZKsync emerged as the year's biggest losers in terms of declining network activity, demonstrating that temporary viral success doesn't guarantee long-term user retention.
Ronin, the blockchain network originally built for the popular play-to-earn game Axie Infinity, experienced one of the steepest activity drops among established networks. After generating considerable attention through gaming initiatives and ecosystem expansion efforts in late 2024, the network struggled to maintain its user base as the novelty wore off and market conditions shifted. The decline highlights ongoing challenges facing gaming-focused blockchains in sustaining engagement beyond initial hype cycles.
ZKsync, a layer-2 scaling solution leveraging zero-knowledge rollup technology, faced similar struggles despite its technical sophistication and previous momentum. The network had attracted significant attention through its anticipated token launch and ecosystem incentives, but failed to convert that initial interest into sustained transaction volume and developer activity. This downturn raises important questions about whether technological innovation alone can drive lasting adoption without complementary user experience improvements.
Industry analysts point to several factors behind these declines. The broader cryptocurrency market correction in early 2025 certainly played a role, dampening overall activity across multiple networks. However, the particularly sharp drops experienced by Ronin and ZKsync suggest deeper issues related to user retention strategies and ecosystem development approaches.
The phenomenon underscores a critical lesson for blockchain projects: viral moments and marketing campaigns can attract users temporarily, but building sustainable networks requires compelling use cases, consistent user experience, and genuine value creation. Both networks attracted attention through different mechanisms—gaming for Ronin and technological innovation for ZKsync—yet neither successfully translated that attention into sticky, long-term engagement.
As the blockchain industry matures, these metrics serve as a reminder that sustainable growth demands more than momentary hype. Projects must focus on delivering continuous value, fostering genuine community engagement, and solving real problems to maintain relevance in an increasingly competitive landscape.