In the ever-evolving world of blockchain, where developers and founders flock to build the next big thing, a recent insight from venture capital giant a16z crypto is turning heads. According to a tweet from rip.eth, Ethereum and its Layer 2 solution Base are capturing a whopping 42% of "builder energy" – that's the combined interest from founders looking to create on these platforms.

What Is Builder Energy?

Builder energy refers to the relative number of founders and developers who are either actively building on or expressing interest in a particular blockchain ecosystem. This metric, visualized in a colorful bubble chart shared by rip.eth, highlights preferences based on a16z crypto's investment team analysis. It's not an exhaustive count of all builders but serves as a snapshot of where the innovation buzz is strongest.

In the chart, Ethereum leads with 22%, closely followed by Base at 20%, making their combined dominance clear. Other notable players include Solana at 16%, Bitcoin at 8%, and smaller shares for chains like Monad (4%), Hyperliquid (5%), and Polygon PoS (2%).

Why Ethereum and Base Are Winning

Ethereum has long been the go-to for decentralized applications, thanks to its robust smart contract capabilities and massive ecosystem. But with high gas fees and scalability issues, Layer 2 solutions like Base – built by Coinbase – have surged in popularity. Base offers cheaper and faster transactions while inheriting Ethereum's security, making it ideal for everything from DeFi protocols to, you guessed it, meme tokens.

This duo's appeal lies in their interoperability and developer tools. Founders can tap into Ethereum's vast liquidity and user base, then scale seamlessly on Base. As rip.eth points out in the tweet, "42% of founders want to build on those two chains alone," signaling a strong vote of confidence.

Implications for Meme Tokens

At Meme Insider, we're all about meme tokens, and this data has direct relevance. Solana, with its 16% share, has been a hotspot for viral memes like Pump.fun launches due to its speed and low costs. However, Ethereum and Base's combined 42% suggests a potential shift or expansion for meme creators.

Many top meme tokens, such as PEPE and SHIB, originated on Ethereum, and Base has seen its own meme frenzy with projects like Brett. If more builders gravitate here, we could witness a renaissance in Ethereum-based memes, blending nostalgia with modern scalability. For blockchain practitioners, this means keeping an eye on cross-chain tools and Layer 2 integrations to stay ahead in the meme game.

Other Chains in the Mix

While Ethereum and Base steal the show, don't count out the underdogs:

• Solana (16%)​: Known for high throughput, it's a favorite for gaming and NFTs, often hosting explosive meme token pumps.
• Bitcoin (8%)​: With Ordinals and Runes, Bitcoin is evolving beyond just a store of value.
• TON (2%)​: Tied to Telegram, it's gaining traction for social-fi apps.
• Smaller bubbles like Avalanche (3%) and Arbitrum (3%) represent niche but growing ecosystems.

The chart also includes emerging players like NEAR (2%) and Monad (4%), hinting at future competition.

Looking Ahead

This builder energy distribution underscores Ethereum's enduring influence in crypto. For meme token enthusiasts and developers, it's a reminder to diversify skills across chains while leveraging the strengths of leaders like Ethereum and Base. As the space matures, tracking these preferences can help predict where the next wave of innovation – and memes – will emerge.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how blockchain trends impact the meme token world. If you're building or investing, consider exploring Base's developer docs or Ethereum's resources to get started.