- New DeFi chains like Unichain and Movement drive exponential TVL growth in April 2025
- Agile blockchains with niche focuses increasingly rival established DeFi ecosystems
- TVL gains in Proton, Fantom, and Soneium reflect steady adoption and ecosystem trust
April 2025 brought a dramatic shift in the DeFi landscape, with several lesser-known blockchain networks registering explosive growth in Total Value Locked (TVL). According to data from CryptoRank.io and DeFiLlama.com, eight blockchain platforms recorded notable gains, each with a TVL exceeding $10 million.
The top performers saw growth that far surpassed market expectations, with Unichain, Movement, and EDU Chain leading the charge. These surges highlight an evolving market dynamic where new and agile chains are capturing user interest, developer activity, and significant capital inflows.
Top Chains by TVL Growth in April@unichain +5,278%@movementlabsxyz +4,158%@educhain_xyz +2,717%@HyperliquidX +162%
— CryptoRank.io (@CryptoRank_io) May 6, 2025
Proton +74.8%@FantomFDN +66.3%@soneium +65.6%@hemi_xyz +56.6% pic.twitter.com/1KK92oeCb7
Breakout Performers Steal the Spotlight
Unichain delivered a 5,278% increase in TVL, pushing its total locked assets to $650 million. This phenomenal growth suggests a recent wave of activity possibly a major protocol launch or strategic investment inflows. Movement Labs wasn’t far behind.
With a 4,158% rise, its TVL soared to $246 million. Such a rapid climb indicates growing confidence among users and builders, possibly tied to ecosystem incentives or partnerships.
EDU Chain also posted a remarkable 2,717% increase. While its TVL of $26.7 million is relatively modest, the relative growth shows rising engagement, perhaps from educational platforms or DeFi experiments targeting new user bases. These breakout performers are signaling a potential trend: fresh chains with niche focuses are increasingly competing with more established ecosystems.
Solid Gains Among Established Players
While not as meteoric, several established chains also posted healthy growth. Hyperliquid climbed 162%, reaching a robust $1 billion in TVL. Its solid base and continued expansion point to sustained user activity and capital retention. Hemi matched Hyperliquid’s $1 billion mark with a 56.6% increase, suggesting a healthy ecosystem with balanced growth.
Proton and Fantom both registered moderate but meaningful gains. Proton rose by 74.8% to $15.2 million, while Fantom added 66.3%, totaling $73.4 million. These figures show steady adoption and underline ongoing developer confidence. Soneium also impressed with a 65.6% increase, taking its TVL to $170 million a sign of growing traction within its network.
