Solana News Today: Near Surpasses Solana and BNB Chain in Weekly Active Users by 18.4% Growth

Near Protocol (NEAR) has emerged as the altcoin with the highest number of active users on a weekly basis, claiming the top spot with 16 million users, a 18.4% increase from the previous week [1]. Surpassing expectations, NEAR outperformed both Solana (SOL) and BNB Chain (BNB), which ranked second and third with 14.8 million and 14.5 million active users, respectively [1]. This ranking reflects the growing interest and engagement within the altcoin space, particularly in projects that offer scalable and user-friendly blockchain experiences.

The weekly user activity data reveals a mixed landscape across the top-performing altcoins. While NEAR experienced a significant increase in user engagement, Solana and BNB Chain saw declines of 18.8% and 9.2%, respectively [1]. Other platforms, including Raydium and Aptos, also showed strong user growth, with Aptos rising by 30.9% week-on-week [1]. In contrast, projects like Base and Uniswap experienced sharp declines in active users, with Uniswap dropping by 36.1% [1]. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of the crypto ecosystem, where user behavior can shift rapidly in response to technological developments, market sentiment, and project-specific events.

The focus on weekly active users offers a different metric for evaluating the success and sustainability of blockchain platforms compared to traditional indicators such as price and trading volume. While Ethereum, for instance, is not among the top three in user engagement, it still maintains a strong presence in the DeFi and stablecoin sectors, evidenced by its 2.9 million active users and a 25.6% increase in weekly activity [1]. This suggests that Ethereum continues to serve as a foundational layer for many blockchain applications, even as newer platforms like NEAR gain traction in user adoption.

The data also draws attention to the importance of user engagement as a long-term indicator of a blockchain’s success. Analysts and investors are increasingly looking at metrics such as active wallets to gauge real-world usage and community support. While price movements often attract short-term speculation, consistent user growth indicates a more sustainable and mature ecosystem. The performance of NEAR in particular suggests that platforms prioritizing scalability, security, and user experience are likely to see continued adoption.

It is important to note that the current data is based on active wallet addresses and does not reflect trading volume or price changes [1]. Therefore, altcoins with high user activity, such as NEAR and SOL, should not be directly compared to those with strong short-term price movements, such as XRP or Dogecoin, which have seen gains driven by market speculation rather than user engagement [2]. This distinction highlights the need for a multi-dimensional approach when evaluating the performance of different crypto assets.

Overall, the latest rankings of active users provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of the altcoin market. As the industry continues to mature, user activity is expected to play a more prominent role in shaping investment decisions and platform development strategies. Platforms that demonstrate consistent and growing user engagement are likely to attract more attention from both retail and institutional investors, reinforcing the importance of these metrics in the broader crypto landscape.

[1] Altcoins with the highest number of active users on a weekly basis revealed – surprise at the top. https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689bb4a59866ea1fbe34f304/

[2] XRP and Dogecoin show recent price surges driven by market dynamics. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/JPM-N/pressreleases/34043085/2-reasons-xrp-is-the-highest-upside-cryptocurrency-to-buy-right-now/