The Sui blockchain has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the Layer 1 landscape, recently surpassing major competitors like Aptos, Cardano, and Near in total value locked (TVL). With a remarkable $310 million inflow from Ethereum over the past 30 days and a TVL surge from $211 million to $593 million since the start of 2025, Sui is capturing serious attention across the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.
This explosive growth reflects not just increased investor confidence but also growing developer activity and network resilience—highlighted by Sui achieving a peak throughput of 6,000 transactions per second (TPS) in December, during which it produced an astonishing 13.8 million blocks in a single day.
Rapid Growth in Total Value Locked
Total Value Locked (TVL) is a key metric for evaluating the health and adoption of a blockchain’s DeFi ecosystem. For Sui, the numbers tell a compelling story. As of early 2025, Sui’s TVL stands at over **$593 million**, more than doubling its $211 million figure at the beginning of the year.
This rapid capital accumulation positions Sui ahead of established Layer 1 blockchains such as Cardano, Aptos, and Near Protocol in DeFi TVL rankings—according to data from DefiLlama. The momentum has been fueled largely by cross-chain inflows, particularly from Ethereum, where users are increasingly bridging assets to access Sui’s high-performance infrastructure and emerging yield opportunities.
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$310 Million Bridged from Ethereum via Wormhole
A significant driver behind Sui’s TVL spike is the influx of capital through Wormhole, the cross-chain messaging protocol. Data from wormholescan.io reveals that $310 million worth of assets were transferred from Ethereum to Sui within just 30 days—a clear signal of growing institutional and retail interest.
This capital movement underscores a broader trend: users are seeking scalable, low-latency alternatives to Ethereum for DeFi participation without sacrificing security or composability. Sui’s parallel execution engine, built on the Move programming language, enables it to process transactions concurrently—offering superior scalability compared to linear execution models.
Built by Former Meta Engineers Using the Move Language
Sui shares architectural DNA with Aptos, another Move-based blockchain developed by ex-Meta (formerly Facebook) employees who worked on the now-defunct Diem (formerly Libra) project. Both chains leverage Move, a resource-oriented programming language designed for secure asset handling and smart contract execution.
However, Sui differentiates itself with its object-centric data model and horizontal scalability. While Aptos uses a more traditional account-based system, Sui treats everything as an object, enabling fine-grained concurrency and reducing bottlenecks during high network usage.
This technical edge became evident during a surge in blockchain "inscriptions"—a trend initially popularized on Bitcoin, where users embed digital artifacts directly into the blockchain. When inscription activity spiked on Sui in late 2024, the network handled massive traffic with ease.
On December 22, Sui processed 13.8 million blocks in 24 hours, hitting a peak of 6,000 TPS. Notably, unlike most networks where gas fees spike under load, Sui’s adaptive fee model caused gas prices to drop during this period—a rare feat demonstrating its robustness under stress.
Overcoming Early Challenges
Sui’s journey hasn’t been without turbulence. After launching on Binance Launchpad in May 2023, the SUI token plummeted by 68% within its first five months of trading. Confidence wavered further in October 2023 when reports surfaced alleging that the Sui Foundation had manipulated token supply—a claim the foundation strongly denied and labeled “materially false.”
Despite these setbacks, the chain regained traction thanks to organic on-chain activity rather than speculative hype. The rise of inscriptions brought new users and developers to the ecosystem, reigniting interest in Sui’s underlying technology.
Today, the network is secured by 106 validators operating 413 nodes, according to SuiExplorer. This decentralized validator set contributes to network stability and trustless operation—key factors for long-term sustainability.
DeFi Ecosystem Gains Momentum
The backbone of Sui’s growing TVL lies in its DeFi protocols. Two platforms dominate the landscape:
- Scallop Lend: A non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol.
- Navi Protocol: Another leading lending platform focused on capital efficiency.
Both have seen their TVL quadruple since January 2025, driven by improved liquidity incentives, new integrations, and rising user trust. These platforms are now attracting yield seekers looking for alternatives beyond Ethereum’s saturated lending markets.
Additionally, new projects spanning DEXs, yield aggregators, and restaking protocols are launching regularly, indicating strong developer momentum. This expanding ecosystem is creating a positive feedback loop: more apps attract more users, which increases demand for SUI tokens and boosts staking participation.
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SUI Token Surges 131% in Early 2025
The market has taken notice. The SUI token is trading at $1.80, up 131% since January 1, 2025—far outpacing the CoinDesk 20 Index, which rose only 10% over the same period. This outperformance highlights growing investor appetite for innovative Layer 1 solutions offering real utility and performance advantages.
As more institutional capital explores multi-chain strategies, Sui’s combination of speed, low cost, and developer-friendly tooling makes it a compelling candidate for allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Total Value Locked (TVL)?
A: TVL measures the total amount of assets deposited into DeFi protocols on a blockchain. It's a key indicator of ecosystem health and user adoption.
Q: Why is Sui faster than other blockchains?
A: Sui uses parallel transaction processing powered by its object-centric architecture and the Move programming language, allowing it to scale horizontally and achieve high TPS without congestion.
Q: How does Sui compare to Aptos?
A: Both use the Move language and were built by former Meta engineers. However, Sui uses an object model for data, enabling better concurrency, while Aptos uses account-based storage similar to Ethereum.
Q: Where can I bridge assets to Sui?
A: Assets can be bridged to Sui via Wormhole and other cross-chain bridges from networks like Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain.
Q: Is Sui decentralized enough?
A: With 106 validators running 413 nodes, Sui maintains a reasonably decentralized network. Ongoing efforts focus on increasing geographic and operational diversity among validators.
Q: What caused the recent surge in Sui’s activity?
A: A combination of inscription trends, strong developer activity, improved DeFi yields, and large inflows from Ethereum contributed to the surge in usage and TVL.
Looking Ahead: Can Sui Maintain Its Momentum?
Sui’s rise reflects a broader shift in the crypto ecosystem—away from mere speculation toward platforms that deliver measurable performance and real-world utility. Its ability to maintain low fees during peak usage, attract developer talent, and grow TVL organically sets it apart from many peers.
With continued innovation in DeFi, NFTs, and web3 gaming—sectors already seeing traction on Sui—the network appears well-positioned for sustained growth throughout 2025 and beyond.
As investors and builders seek scalable, secure, and efficient Layer 1 solutions, Sui’s blend of technical excellence and growing ecosystem adoption could make it one of the standout performers in the next phase of blockchain evolution.