Offchain Labs expands ARB Holding amid sluggish market conditions

Offchain Labs – the company behind Arbitrum – has just confirmed that it has continued to purchase more ARB tokens as per the plan approved by the DAO starting in March 2025, in order to reduce the circulating supply of ARB tokens.

12/25/20252 min read

The DAO plan is underway

Offchain Labs, the core developer of Arbitrum, has confirmed the purchase of additional ARB tokens as part of a token purchase plan approved in March. This move reaffirms the team's commitment to Arbitrum as a long-term ecosystem, even as market sentiment towards the ARB token remains weak.

Despite Arbitrum being the largest Layer-2 network on Ethereum in terms of total value and activity, the token's price reaction has been rather subdued. ARB continues to trade under heavy pressure, down approximately 76% year-on-year, indicating a growing disconnect between the network's fundamentals and the token's performance.

Why did Offchain Labs buy ARB ?

The acquisition of ARB is part of a previously announced and approved plan, not a sudden move or reaction. Offchain Labs described this accumulation as a strategically aligned decision: ensuring that the organization building Arbitrum remains economically committed to the long-term success of the ecosystem.

By increasing its ARB holdings, Offchain Labs is signaling its intentions:

  • Maintain the long-term governing role of the protocol.

  • Linking developer incentives to token holders.

  • Expressing confidence in Arbitrum's future importance in Ethereum's scaling roadmap.

In common understanding, this is similar to a founder or core contributor doubling equity during a recession — a gesture of confidence rather than a short-term price catalyst.

Use value versus token value

Arbitrum's situation highlights one of the most important debates in the cryptocurrency world today: " Does network success necessarily translate into token value? "

In the case of Arbitrum, the answer—at least so far—is no. The network is thriving operationally, but the token continues to struggle. This imbalance isn't unique to ARB; it affects many Layer-2 protocols and DAOs, where transaction fees are designed to be low, revenue is reinvested rather than distributed, and the token's utility is primarily based on governance.

The Offchain Labs acquisition addresses the fit issue, but it doesn't resolve the structural question for the market.

Our review

Offchain Labs' confirmation of purchasing additional ARB tokens reinforces their long-term commitment to Arbitrum as Ethereum's leading Layer-2 ecosystem. From a development and application perspective, Arbitrum remains the foundation for Ethereum's future scaling.

However, the market remains unconvinced. With ARB down approximately 76% over the past year, the token's performance reflects deeper structural challenges related to supply, value recovery, and investor expectations—rather than a lack of technical success.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is the author's personal opinion in the field of cryptocurrency. This is not financial or investment advice. All investment decisions should be based on careful consideration of your personal portfolio and risk tolerance. The views expressed in this article do not represent the official stance of the platform. We recommend that readers conduct their own research and consult with experts before making any investment decisions.

Compiled and analyzed by HCCVenture

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