Ethereum leads 2025 crypto inflows with $4.21 billion, Arbitrum sees $5.13 billion outflow

Ethereum tops capital inflows in 2025

Looking at the 2025 cryptocurrency landscape, the movement of funds between different networks tells a pretty clear story. On-chain data reveals some interesting patterns about where money is flowing and where it’s leaving.

Ethereum seems to be the big winner here, with a net capital inflow of $4.21 billion throughout the year. That’s a substantial amount, and it suggests continued confidence in the Ethereum ecosystem despite all the competition that’s emerged over the years.

But what’s perhaps more surprising is Hyperliquid coming in second. The Hyperliquid network pulled in $2.88 billion in net inflows, which is notable for a platform focused on derivatives and high-volume transactions. I think this shows that specialized DeFi platforms are gaining real traction.

Other networks with positive flows

The data shows several other networks with respectable inflows. Sonic recorded $1.25 billion, WorldChain had $671 million, and Solana brought in $625 million. Starknet followed with $613 million, edgeX with $334 million, Ink with $224 million, and Injective with $174 million.

Interestingly, Bitcoin shows up on this list too, but with a relatively modest $155 million in net inflows. That’s worth noting because Bitcoin usually dominates headlines, but in terms of network capital flows, it’s not leading the pack here.

The outflow side tells a different story

Now, the other side of this picture is where things get concerning. Arbitrum experienced a net outflow of $5.13 billion throughout 2025. That’s a massive amount of capital leaving the network, and it raises questions about what’s happening there.

When you see numbers like that, you have to wonder about investor sentiment and whether there are structural issues or just a rotation of capital to other opportunities. The article mentions other networks showing negative performance following Arbitrum, though specific numbers aren’t provided for those.

What this data might mean

Capital flows like these often reflect broader trends in the cryptocurrency space. The strong inflows to Ethereum suggest it’s maintaining its position as a foundational layer, while the success of Hyperliquid points to growing interest in specialized financial applications.

The outflows from Arbitrum, on the other hand, might indicate challenges for layer-2 solutions or perhaps just normal market rotation. It’s hard to say without more context about what drove those movements.

One thing I’ve noticed is that these capital movements don’t always align perfectly with price performance or market sentiment. Sometimes money flows into networks for technical development or infrastructure building rather than just speculation.

Looking at this data, I think it shows a maturing market where capital is becoming more selective. Investors seem to be differentiating between networks based on their actual utility and growth potential rather than just following hype cycles.

Of course, this is just one snapshot from 2025, and these patterns could shift quickly in the volatile crypto space. But for now, the data paints a clear picture of winners and losers in the capital flow game.