Solana Mocks Starknet's 'Daily Active Users: 8,' Founders Playful in Interaction to Ease Tension

Solana's official X account launched a pointed critique of Starknet, a prominent Ethereum layer-2 solution, citing its low daily active users. The post highlighted 8 daily active users and 10 transactions, yet Starknet maintains a $1 billion market cap and $15 billion fully diluted valuation. The message quickly drew attention on crypto platforms for its direct and humorous tone according to crypto analysts.

The critique came after Starknet had posted its own data showing a rise in total value locked (TVL) to $300 million for the first time since Q1 2024. Starknet's account emphasized that 'numbers don't lie' and that DeFi activity remains active despite lagging user metrics.

Solana's public critique of Starknet is part of a broader rivalry between layer-1 and layer-2 protocols. The move is notable because it involves a top-10 protocol publicly questioning the legitimacy of a competing ZK rollup. This kind of public exchange is unusual in the typically more measured world of crypto business competition.

Why Did This Happen?

Starknet's valuation has grown significantly since its token launch in mid-2024, reaching a $1 billion market cap. However, on-chain metrics have remained low, prompting questions about the justification for such valuation. Solana's official account used this discrepancy to highlight what it views as a mismatch between Starknet's token economics and actual user activity.

The post was not just a critique of numbers. It signaled a deeper strategic move as layer-1 and layer-2 solutions compete for dominance in the broader blockchain ecosystem. This kind of public challenge can influence investor perception and market sentiment, especially when coming from a high-profile protocol.