What’s striking is how smooth this surge looks onchain. There’s no single outlier day distorting the data. Instead, Ethereum is sustaining elevated throughput day after day, suggesting steady demand rather than a fleeting spike.
That distinction matters. This isn’t just long-time users pushing buttons faster. Ethereum is actively onboarding new participants, broadening its base rather than recycling activity among the same set of addresses. The current transaction boom is being fueled by expansion, not repetition.
As January progresses, average transaction fees are hovering between a few cents and roughly $0.20. Even with transaction counts climbing into record territory, fee pressure remains super minimal, and confirmation times are staying quick especially given the fact that those fees are simply an average.
All things considered, the picture is hard to ignore. Ethereum is absorbing record transaction volumes, welcoming a wave of new wallets, and doing so without triggering the familiar gas-fee backlash. The network is busy, crowded, and active—but it’s not congested.
FAQ Why is Ethereum activity rising right now? Onchain data shows both increased usage and a growing number of first-time wallets interacting with the network. What are Ethereum’s busiest days ever? The top five all occur between Jan. 13 and Jan. 17, 2026, led by Jan. 16 with nearly 2.9 million transactions. Are gas fees increasing with higher activity? No, fees remain low, with most transactions costing just a few cents or less. What does Glassnode’s data indicate? Glassnode shows growth in new addresses, meaning fresh users—not just existing ones—are driving activity.
