Financial unpredictability and a significant crypto exchange hack lowered the overall worth secured decentralized financing (DeFi) procedures to $156 billion in the very first quarter of 2025, however AI and social apps picked up speed with an increase in network users, according to a crypto analytics company.
” More comprehensive financial unpredictability and remaining aftershocks from the Bybit make use of” were the primary contributing aspects to the DeFi sector’s 27% quarter-on-quarter fall in TVL, according to an April 3 report from DappRadar, which kept in mind that Ether (ETH) fell 45% to $1,820 over the exact same duration.
Modification in DeFi overall worth locked in between Jan. 2024 and March 2025. Source: DappRadar
The biggest blockchain by TVL, Ethereum, fell 37% to $96 billion, while Sui was the hardest hit of the leading 10 blockchains by TVL, falling 44% to $2 billion.
Solana, Tron and the Arbitrum blockchains likewise had their TVLs slashed over 30%.
On the other hand, blockchains that experienced a bigger volume of DeFi withdrawals and had a smaller sized share of stablecoins secured their procedures dealt with additional pressure on top of the falling token rates.
The freshly released Berachain was the only top-10 blockchain by TVL to increase, collecting $5.17 billion in between Feb. 6 and March 31, DappRadar kept in mind.
Market fall didn’t stunt AI and social app user development
Nevertheless, the variety of everyday special active wallets (DUAW) connecting with AI procedures and social apps increased 29% and 10%, respectively, in Q1, while non-fungible token and GameFi procedures fell back, DappRadar’s information programs.
The month-to-month average of DUAWs connecting on the AI and social procedures increased to 2.6 million and 2.8 million, while DeFi and GameFi procedures fell double-digits.
DappRadar stated there was “explosive development” in AI representative procedures, mentioning that they’re “no longer a principle.”
” They’re here, and they’re forming brand-new user habits,” stated the company.

Modification in DeFi overall worth locked in between Jan. 2024 and March 2025. Source: DappRadar
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On the other hand, NFT trading volume fell 25% to $1.5 billion, with OKX’s NFT market taking in the most sales at $606 million, while OpenSea and Blur saw $599 million and $565 million, respectively.
Pudgy Penguins NFTs were the most offered antiques at $177 million, while CryptoPunks NFTs netted $63.6 million from simply 477 sales, DappRadar kept in mind.
” When examining leading collections, CryptoPunks stays a staple– its status stays undamaged even as cost variations make it mostly unattainable for the typical user.”
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