Server-Class Ethernet NIC Revenues Double in Two Years

Crehan Research reports strong growth in foundational NICs and DPUs/SmartNICs

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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According to the latest report from Crehan Research, server-class Ethernet NIC revenues more than doubled over the past two years, surpassing $13 billion by 2025. The report cites the rapid customer deployment of high-speed Ethernet NICs in generative AI networks as the main driver of this growth, with 200 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 400GbE NIC sales more than tripling in the past year alone.

Why it matters

The surge in server-class Ethernet NIC revenues reflects the growing importance of high-speed networking in powering the latest advancements in generative AI, as well as the broader demand for robust cloud computing infrastructure to support the increasing computational needs of enterprises and service providers.

The details

Crehan Research president Seamus Crehan noted that high-speed foundational Ethernet NICs are the connection of choice for connecting GPUs and XPUs in back-end networking, while high-speed Ethernet DPUs/SmartNICs are a common front-end connection. The report also indicates that other market segments, including general cloud service provider compute, enterprise networking, and storage, have also seen very robust increases in server-class Ethernet NIC demand.

  • The server-class Ethernet NIC market surpassed $13 billion in revenues by 2025.
  • 200 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 400GbE NIC sales more than tripled in the past year alone.

The players

Crehan Research Inc.

A market research firm that produces reports with detailed statistics and information on the data center switch and server-class adapter & LOM/controller (NIC) markets.

Seamus Crehan

The president of Crehan Research Inc.

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What they’re saying

“Following the initial release of ChatGPT, the server-class Ethernet NIC market has seen nearly a vertical straight line trajectory in revenue growth.”

— Seamus Crehan, President (Crehan Research Inc.)

“High-speed foundational Ethernet NICs are the connection of choice for connecting GPUs and XPUs in back-end networking, while high-speed Ethernet DPUs/SmartNICs are a common front-end connection.”

— Seamus Crehan, President (Crehan Research Inc.)

The takeaway

The rapid growth in server-class Ethernet NIC revenues underscores the critical role of high-speed networking in powering the latest advancements in generative AI and cloud computing, as enterprises and service providers continue to invest in robust infrastructure to meet their increasing computational needs.