- Key Ethereum Layer-2 tokens like Arbitrum (ARB), StarkNet (STRK), Mantle (MNT), Aevo (AEVO), and Fuel (FUEL) are experiencing volatility, drawing market attention.
- The upgrades tied to Pectra, including reduced calldata costs and smart accounts, position Layer-2 solutions like Fuel and Aevo for improved scalability and user experience.
The Layer-2 ecosystem has had an increased spotlight with the Ethereum Pectra upgrade, which added expanded blob space, validator improvements, and the introduction of smart accounts. Such changes are set to reduce transaction costs and scale up the ecosystem. Thus, five tokens — Arbitrum (ARB), StarkNet (STRK), Mantle (MNT), Aevo (AEVO), and Fuel (FUEL) are being studied by market participants with recent price volatility.
Ethereum Layer-2 Arbitrum (ARB) Price Analysis
Arbitrum will also benefit from lower Layer-1 settlement fees as Ethereum’s data handling becomes more efficient with further increases in blob capacity. EIP-7702 is intended to achieve this by providing smart account capabilities, which, upon integration, will enable better onboarding and gasless transactions as well.
However, over the past week, ARB price has declined by 6.2%, as highlighted in our previous story. Currently, the asset is testing a critical support at $0.292 and this support is likely to be extended leading to prices getting to $0.27. However, a breakout above $0.315 levels could indicate the recovery of the digital assets with the upside target of $0.345 and thereafter $0.363, providing bullish momentum is certain.
StarkNet (STRK) Price Action
On ZK rollup-based platforms such as StarkNet, the Pectra upgrade brings great improvements in terms of how the calldata is processed and the validator processes. These changes reduce Layer-1 costs directly, making high-throughput applications viable. In the last seven days, the crypto has seen an unforgiving 13.5% drop.
STRK is trading around $0.116 support, and a break below this may fuel the downtrend. On the flip side, if we see a break past the $0.136 resistance, it may see gains with resistance levels at $0.15 and $0.161.
Mantle (MNT) Price Prediction
As Ethereum increases the staking limits under EIP-7251, Mantle’s modular design and integration of re–staken ETH lends to its ability to benefit. Expanding blob space can boost the protocol’s fee on data as well as improve the efficiency of the validator. Nonetheless, the technical indicators look cautious.
The bearish sentiment around MNT was evident with a recent death cross and the fact that the coin has plunged 2.6% last week. The $0.68 support token is trading close to the $0.652 price area, below which a drop is possible. However, if market sentiment were to turn, a resistance level of $0.72 exists, namely that this level could be breached up to $0.759 and $0.809.
Aevo (AEVO) Price Struggles
Aevo, an L2 focused on derivatives, would benefit from reduced calldata costs tied to Pectra, as well as improved scalability, which is necessary for high frequency trading, among other things. In addition, smart accounts could be incorporated and allow for features such as gasless trading. However, those structural positives have not been able to support AEVO as it dropped almost 12% to have a hard time holding above $0.10.
Ongoing selling pressure will bring the immediate support at $0.096, then at $0.082 and $0.0756. A recovery to $0.115 and $0.121 may start with reclaiming the $0.107 resistance.
Ethereum Layer-2 Fuel (FUEL) Price Shows Resilience
Fuel Network’s modular execution framework is compatible with the new Ethereum upgrade. First, smart accounts, which can enhance user experience and application onboarding, could benefit from the cheaper data storage. Second, the cheaper data storage directly helps with Fuel’s throughput goals.
More recently, the FUEL price has been resilient and continues to build on that strength with bullish EMA alignment. In fact, the asset has been getting consolidated below the $0.012 ceiling. And once cleared, it opens up the potential for upside to $0.0129 and $0.014, with a stretch target at $0.0163. With sellers in the driving seat, support comes in at $0.010, with lower levels at $0.0084 and $0.0077.
