Bitcoin Cash Leads Layer-1 Performance in 2025 with 40% YTD Rally

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has emerged as the top-performing major Layer-1 blockchain in 2025, recording a 40% year-to-date rally that surpasses all other leading networks. This resurgence has repositioned BCH as a serious contender in a landscape dominated by Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, signaling a shift in investor behavior towards older, proven networks with clear utility.

The rally is underpinned by a surge in utility-driven demand. As congestion and high fees plagued multiple smart contract chains throughout the year, users returned to Bitcoin Cash for its predictable, low-cost on-chain transactions. This has made BCH attractive for merchants, stablecoin users, and remittance platforms seeking reliability without volatile gas fees.

Analysts note a broader Layer-1 rotation in the crypto market, with investors seeking stability after cycles of experimentation with high-throughput and modular networks. Bitcoin Cash offers this through its conservative architecture, stable issuance schedule, and a decade-long track record free of major network failures. This stability has begun attracting institutional interest, with some crypto index funds and diversified L1 portfolios quietly increasing exposure to BCH, viewing it as a mid-cap asset with asymmetric upside compared to more saturated markets.

Technically, BCH is trading around $578 with a market cap above $11.5 billion, though it remains nearly 87% below its 2017 all-time high of approximately $4,355. Traders are now watching to see if the asset can consolidate above the $576-$605 intraday band or if it will retest the $550 level as new support. The current move is seen as a measured recovery rather than an exuberant breakout, with market participants debating the durability of this momentum phase.

This shift is forcing a reevaluation of the Layer-1 ecosystem narrative, which had long favored innovation and smart contract capabilities. Bitcoin Cash is carving out a differentiated lane as a global settlement layer for stablecoins, remittances, and micropayments, particularly in regions like Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa where low fees and accessibility are critical. The sustained growth of these sectors could fuel BCH's momentum into 2026.