Arkham Drops Linea, Raising Eyebrows Over L2 ‘Importance’ Cuts

TLDR:

• Arkham Intelligence will stop tracking data for Linea, Manta, and Blast starting January 11, 2026.
• The decision is based on a periodic review of industry relevance, user demand, and maintenance costs.
• Established networks like Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism maintain their status within the analytical tool.

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Arkham Intelligence has shaken the crypto ecosystem by removing several networks from its interface. Starting January 11, 2026, Arkham support for L2 networks will no longer include Linea (developed by Consensys), Manta, and Blast. 

[Arkham Intel] Notice of Chain Removal: Linea

Arkham periodically evaluates chain integrations for continued maintenance based on user demand and their importance to the crypto ecosystem, among other factors.

Based on a recent review from our team, we will be removing support… pic.twitter.com/x8If33ZsX5

— Arkham (@arkham) January 9, 2026

According to the company, this move is a response to routine optimization after evaluating criteria such as relevance, actual activity, and user demand.

The crypto community was plunged into an intense debate following the news. Although Arkham did not disclose the exact metrics that led to this cut, analysts speculate that low user traction and minimal institutional interest in these specific chains do not justify the operational costs of monitoring them.

 Arkham support for L2 networks is vital for detecting whale movements and potential massive liquidations; therefore, the exit of these networks could significantly reduce their visibility among professional investors.

Survival and Scalability: The L2 Landscape After the Purge

Despite this cut, Arkham support for L2 networks remains steady for the sector’s giants. Networks such as Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, Mantle, and Polygon zkEVM have survived the review. 

These chains have demonstrated superior integration with Ethereum, especially following the implementation of key updates like Dencun in 2024 and the recent Pectra and Fusaka in 2025, which optimized the use of “blobs” to reduce data costs.

The industry is now looking forward to the Glasterdam update, scheduled for the first half of 2026, which promises to expand the processing capacity of the remaining Layer 2 networks. 

For Arkham, the objective is clear: focus its resources on financial rails that truly generate traffic and value. However, for projects like Linea and Manta, losing Arkham support for L2 networks represents a reputational and technical challenge in a market heading toward aggressive consolidation, where only the most efficient networks will survive.