Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade has fueled Layer 2 adoption by May 2025, with Arbitrum and Optimism thriving. ETH trades at $1,827, down 1.09% in 24 hours. Gas fees dropped post-Dencun, averaging 10 Gwei, easing user costs. Network activity soared, with active addresses on L2s like Arbitrum up 30%. Over the next three months, ETH may climb to $2,000, driven by reduced fees and DeFi growth. Yet, a hidden tremor looms—rising MEV activity (14% of fees) could deter users if costs spike. The blockchain hums with promise, a spectral engine of innovation, but ETH’s ascent hinges on sustained L2 momentum, a fragile thread in a volatile tapestry.