@Solana and Internet Computer ($ICP, @dfinity) dominated blockchain activity in July 2026, processing a combined 7.23 billion transactions and widening the gap between performance-focused net
@Solana and Internet Computer ($ICP, @dfinity) dominated blockchain activity in July 2026, processing a combined 7.23 billion transactions and widening the gap between performance-focused networks and the rest of the market.
$SOL led all blockchains with 4.07 billion transactions for the month, while ICP recorded 3.16 billion, marking a record-breaking July for both networks. The figures underline a growing two-tier structure in the industry, where a handful of high-throughput chains absorb the bulk of on-chain activity.
ICP's performance is consistent with the trajectory it has built throughout 2026. In July, ICP processed 133 million daily transactions, ranking as the second-most-active blockchain globally, according to CoinMarketCap. That momentum follows a strong first half of the year: by 2026, ICP had processed over one billion transactions in Q1 and hosted around 980,000 canister contracts.
On the Solana side, throughput records have been falling steadily. Solana processed more than one billion non-vote transactions in the week ending July 6, the first time the network's weekly non-vote count crossed that threshold, according to Blockworks analytics data. Chainspect data released on July 10 showed Solana ranked as the fastest blockchain for the second straight week at 1,635 transactions per second, with Internet Computer securing second place at 1,035 transactions per second.
Below the top two, adoption patterns reflect a clear preference for speed and low cost. @BNBChain recorded 448 million transactions in July, followed by @TronDao at 363 million and @Aptos at 352 million. Retail-oriented networks including @StellarOrg (318 million), @Base (226 million), and @0xPolygon (185 million) continue to capture significant $USDC and $PYUSD payment flows.
@Ethereum, by contrast, recorded 71 million transactions for the month. Rather than competing on volume, it continues to serve as the industry's primary high-value security layer, handling settlement for assets and protocols where finality guarantees outweigh throughput considerations.
The July data reinforces a division that has been forming throughout 2026: chains optimised for speed and scale are pulling activity away from legacy settlement layers, while Ethereum carves out a distinct role as infrastructure for high-stakes transactions. Whether the mid-tier networks can sustain their current volumes, or whether Solana and ICP will continue to extend their lead, will likely depend on where stablecoin issuers and institutional flows land in the months ahead.
SourcesSolana Compass: Solana Weekly Non-Vote Transactions Top 1 BillionCoinMarketCap: Latest Internet Computer Network UpdatesTron Weekly: Solana and ICP TPS Rankings, July 2026
