Ethereum retains a higher share of its users than any other major blockchain, with a 26.2% retention rate in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new CoinGecko study. BNB Chain, meanwhile, draws the largest absolute audience — 1.49 million monthly active users — showing two very different kinds of network strength.
The retention gap
CoinGecko's Q1 2025–2026 report measured how many users who interacted with a chain in one month came back the next. Ethereum's 26.2% retention rate put it ahead of all competitors, meaning roughly one in four users returned. No other chain in the study broke 25%. The metric tracks stickiness — not just traffic spikes but actual repeat engagement.
BNB Chain's volume play
BNB Chain didn't win on loyalty, but it won on raw numbers. Its 1.49 million monthly active users was the highest absolute count in the study. The chain has long benefited from low fees and a dense ecosystem of DeFi and gaming dApps that draw large, if sometimes transient, crowds. For projects chasing user acquisition at scale, the numbers make BNB Chain hard to ignore.
What the numbers say about both chains
Ethereum's retention edge suggests its user base is more committed — likely tied to deeper financial positions, staking, or established DeFi habits. BNB Chain's lead in total actives reflects its role as a high-throughput venue for cheaper transactions. Both metrics matter, but they point to different strategic priorities. Retention signals long-term value; raw user count signals reach.
CoinGecko hasn't released the full breakdown for other chains yet, but the Q1 data already sets a benchmark. The next quarterly report, due in September, will show whether Ethereum can hold its stickiness lead as new Layer-2s pull activity away, and whether BNB Chain's user base keeps expanding or starts to churn.
