The latest figures for the monthly ICP burn show a clear pattern emerging over the past five years, with long-term movement pointing upward even as the community waits for stronger, steadier growth. According to data from icterminal, the burn totals have shifted sharply year to year, shaped by market conditions, new products and the wider appetite for on-chain activity.
The earliest recorded number in this run came in 2021, when roughly 10.9 thousand ICP were burned. That rose sharply to 87 thousand in 2022 before easing back to 58 thousand in 2023. The real acceleration began in 2024, jumping to around 553.4 thousand. This year has pushed the figures far higher, landing at 1.64 million ICP burned so far in 2025. Many in the ecosystem see that lift as evidence of growing utility rather than a one-off spike, though there is a shared view that sustained momentum will be essential next year.
Caffeine AI remains one of the strongest drivers of activity on the network, thanks to its rapid expansion and the surge of creators using its tools. Its early success shows how a single product with mass reach can shift behaviour across the chain. Even so, analysts stress that relying on one catalyst comes with risk. Broader growth will likely require a mix of applications that attract builders, bring in new users and encourage repeat activity.
Some developers point to the wider market environment when explaining the uneven year-to-year pattern. Burn totals can reflect excitement during bull phases just as easily as hesitation during slower periods. Others argue that the underlying trend is still moving the right way, especially as more projects adopt models that involve ongoing computation, updates or automation on-chain.
The community remains hopeful that 2026 could be the year where several rising products, including Caffeine, help create a more consistent burn profile. Appetite for experimentation on ICP has improved in recent months, and builders are finding it easier to ship thanks to new tools. The real test will be whether usage deepens rather than spikes, giving the burn chart a smoother rise rather than another round of sharp swings.
If that happens, the long-term trajectory suggested by the current data could become more than a pattern — it could be the baseline for the next phase of the network’s growth.
Dear Reader,
Ledger Life is an independent platform dedicated to covering the Internet Computer (ICP) ecosystem and beyond. We focus on real stories, builder updates, project launches, and the quiet innovations that often get missed.
We’re not backed by sponsors. We rely on readers like you.
If you find value in what we publish—whether it’s deep dives into dApps, explainers on decentralised tech, or just keeping track of what’s moving in Web3—please consider making a donation. It helps us cover costs, stay consistent, and remain truly independent.
Your support goes a long way.
🧠 ICP Principal: ins6i-d53ug-zxmgh-qvum3-r3pvl-ufcvu-bdyon-ovzdy-d26k3-lgq2v-3qe
🧾 ICP Address: f8deb966878f8b83204b251d5d799e0345ea72b8e62e8cf9da8d8830e1b3b05f
🪙 BTC Wallet: bc1pp5kuez9r2atdmrp4jmu6fxersny4uhnaxyrxau4dg7365je8sy2q9zff6p
Every contribution helps keep the lights on, the stories flowing, and the crypto clutter out.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and being part of this experiment in decentralised media.
—Team Ledger Life
