Arkham Intelligence Drops Support for Linea, Manta, and Blast Layer-2 Networks Starting January 11

Arkham Intelligence Drops Support for Linea, Manta, and Blast Layer-2 Networks Starting January 11, 2026

Arkham Intelligence, a leading blockchain analytics and intelligence platform, has confirmed it will cease support for the Linea blockchain on its platform effective January 11, 2026. The decision, announced via Arkham’s official X account on January 9, follows a routine periodic review that evaluates chains based on user demand, on-chain activity, and overall relevance to the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Linea is not alone. Arkham simultaneously disclosed plans to remove support for two other Ethereum Layer-2 networks: Manta and Blast. All three terminations will take effect on the same date, marking the first wave of cuts in 2026 and signaling the beginning of a more aggressive optimization strategy for less active or lower-priority chains.

Why Arkham Is Cutting These Layer-2 Networks

The company has not released a detailed breakdown of the specific criteria each chain failed to meet, but community speculation on X and crypto forums points to consistently low metrics:

Minimal daily active users
Declining transaction volumes
Limited developer activity
Insufficient demand for on-chain intelligence from traders, institutions, and researchers

Maintaining real-time indexing, labeling, and visualization for every supported chain carries significant operational costs. Arkham appears to be prioritizing resources toward networks that continue to generate meaningful scale and engagement, especially after a year of rapid Layer-2 proliferation.

No Such Cuts in 2025 – A New Trend Emerges

Throughout 2025, Arkham maintained support for a wide array of Layer-2 solutions without any major removals. The sudden cluster of announcements in the first week of 2026 suggests the platform is now actively pruning underperforming chains as part of a broader efficiency drive. This shift could reflect maturing market dynamics: with hundreds of Layer-2s live, only a handful dominate TVL, transaction count, and institutional adoption.

Remaining Supported Ethereum Layer-2 Networks

Despite the cuts, Arkham continues to provide full intelligence coverage for several high-profile Ethereum scaling solutions:

Arbitrum
Base
Mantle
Optimism
Polygon zkEVM

These networks have maintained strong relevance thanks to consistent user growth, robust DeFi and NFT ecosystems, and significant institutional usage. Their continued support underscores Arkham’s focus on chains that drive real economic activity.

Why Certain Layer-2s Thrive Post-Dencun

The Dencun upgrade (March 2024) proved transformative for Ethereum’s Layer-2 landscape. By introducing proto-danksharding and blobs, it drastically reduced data availability costs for rollups, enabling cheaper and faster transactions without burdening Ethereum’s Layer-1.

Subsequent upgrades in 2025—Pectra and Fusaka—further expanded blob capacity, reinforcing the viability of high-throughput Layer-2s. This structural improvement turned previously “parasitic” rollups into highly efficient extensions of Ethereum, offloading execution while preserving L1 security and finality.

BOJ Begins The Unwind: ETF Sales Starting January 2026

Networks that capitalized on these upgrades (Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, etc.) saw explosive growth in TVL, daily transactions, and developer adoption. Chains that failed to attract comparable usage or build sustainable ecosystems have struggled to justify their place on analytics platforms like Arkham.

Upcoming Ethereum Upgrades to Watch

The next major milestone, the Glasterdam upgrade, is scheduled for the first half of 2026. It is expected to significantly increase blob throughput, further boosting Layer-2 scalability and potentially widening the gap between top-tier and lower-activity rollups.

Longer-term plans for full danksharding remain in development, with no confirmed timeline, but the trajectory is clear: Ethereum continues to evolve into a secure settlement and data availability layer, while Layer-2s handle the bulk of user-facing activity.

Market and Community Reactions

Reactions to Arkham’s decision have been mixed. Some users expressed concern that reduced visibility on Arkham could make it harder to track large token movements, whale activity, or potential dumps on Linea, Manta, and Blast. Others view the cuts as a natural market correction—only the strongest Layer-2s deserve premium analytics support.

Implications for Linea, Manta, and Blast

Linea, developed by Consensys, has benefited from strong institutional integrations (including SharpLink Gaming’s recent $170 million ETH deployment). However, lower organic user growth compared to Arbitrum or Base may have contributed to its removal. Manta and Blast face similar challenges, with both networks struggling to maintain momentum after initial hype cycles.

The loss of Arkham support does not affect chain functionality, but it may reduce discoverability for traders and analysts who rely on the platform for labeling, flow tracking, and entity monitoring.

Broader Takeaway for Layer-2 in 2026

Arkham’s pruning reflects a maturing Ethereum ecosystem: survival increasingly depends on real usage, developer traction, and sustainable TVL. As Ethereum’s roadmap continues to enhance Layer-2 economics, the gap between top-tier rollups and the rest is likely to widen further.

Traders and analysts should monitor upcoming Glasterdam details and watch whether removed chains can regain relevance through new partnerships, ecosystem incentives, or user growth. For now, Arkham’s focus remains firmly on the Layer-2 leaders driving the majority of on-chain value.

Cryptocurrency markets remain highly dynamic—Layer-2 rankings and platform support can shift rapidly based on adoption trends and technological progress. Stay informed on Ethereum upgrades and on-chain metrics to navigate this evolving landscape effectively.

Milcho Atanasov publication: "Arkham Intelligence Drops Support for Linea, Manta, and Blast Layer-2 Networks Starting January 11" was written for 24crypto.news