Ethereum's Fusaka Upgrade Drives L2 Cost Shift as DeFi Expands

Source: ETHNews Original Title: Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Drives L2 Cost Shift as Crypto.com Expands DeFi Products Original Link: https://www.ethnews.com/ethereums-fusaka-upgrade-drives-l2-cost-shift-as-crypto-com-expands-defi-products/ Ethereum’s ecosystem is entering another transition phase as fresh data from research platforms highlights notable shifts in Layer-2 transaction costs following the network’s successful Fusaka upgrade.

Alongside this change, new partnerships and infrastructure launches are reshaping the DeFi landscape, signaling broader maturation across the sector.

Major Exchange Expands Its Product Footprint

Recent updates outline several initiatives now advancing within major exchange ecosystems. New partnerships introduce investment products tracking various tokens, designed to give market participants more accessible exposure to leading exchange platforms.

At the same time, development teams are rolling out new onboarding hubs built to streamline Web3 interaction for both users and developers.

What the Transaction Cost Chart Reveals

Data shows how median transaction costs evolved across Ethereum and its major L2 networks – Arbitrum, Optimism, Starknet, and Linea, between March and December 2025. Ethereum’s own fees remain the highest across the period, with visible spikes surrounding network upgrades.

Arbitrum and Starknet maintain similar mid-range patterns, generally oscillating around the $0.001–$0.01 range, while Optimism consistently trends lower, drifting toward sub-$0.0001 levels in several intervals.

Linea tracks slightly above Arbitrum during most months, holding a steady median cost near $0.01. The comparison highlights how L2 ecosystems continue to deliver meaningful fee reductions relative to Ethereum mainnet, even as upgrades influence network-wide pricing dynamics.

Fusaka’s Impact Across the Ecosystem

The successful activation of the Fusaka upgrade marks another refinement to Ethereum’s scaling architecture. While data suggests temporary volatility around upgrade windows, overall L2 costs continue to reflect the network’s efforts to maintain competitive settlement pricing.

For developers and users, these signals reinforce Ethereum’s strategic direction as it aims for lower fees, greater throughput, and smoother onboarding pathways.

A Broader Step Toward Integrated DeFi Growth

Taken together, emerging partnerships, new onboarding frameworks, and Ethereum’s latest upgrade illustrate a synchronized push toward usability and institutional accessibility.

With median L2 costs maintaining a clear advantage over mainnet fees, the sector is better aligned with real-world adoption needs. As these developments converge, the next phase of DeFi growth appears increasingly focused on lowering barriers and widening the pipeline for both new users and traditional investors.