Top 7 Ethereum Layer-2 Networks (2026)
Layer-2s inherit Ethereum security while cutting fees 10–100×. We rank by L2BEAT-style maturity stage, fees, TVL, ecosystem and decentralisation of sequencers and proofs.
| # | Name | Score ↕ | Type | Avg. fee | Stage | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arbitrum Best overall | 9.0/10 | Optimistic rollup | ~$0.01–0.05 | Stage 1 | DeFi depth | Visit |
| #2 | Base Fastest growing | 8.9/10 | OP Stack rollup | <$0.01 | Stage 1 | Consumer apps, onboarding | Visit |
| #3 | Optimism (OP Mainnet) Best for Superchain | 8.5/10 | OP Stack rollup | ~$0.01 | Stage 1 | Superchain builders, public goods | Visit |
| #4 | zkSync Era Best ZK ecosystem | 8.0/10 | ZK rollup | ~$0.02 | Stage 0/1 | ZK-native apps, elastic chains | Visit |
| #5 | Polygon (PoS + zkEVM) Best for enterprises & payments | 7.9/10 | Sidechain + ZK rollup | <$0.01 | Mixed | Brands, stablecoin payments | Visit |
| #6 | Starknet Most innovative tech | 7.6/10 | ZK (STARK) rollup | ~$0.01 | Stage 1 | Cairo developers, gaming | Visit |
| #7 | Scroll Best EVM-equivalent ZK | 7.3/10 | ZK rollup (zkEVM) | ~$0.02 | Stage 1 | Solidity devs wanting ZK | Visit |
The seven, in detail
Arbitrum
- Largest L2 by TVL and DeFi activity
- BoLD permissionless validation
- Mature tooling and Orbit chains
- 7-day withdrawal window via native bridge
- Centralised sequencer
Choose it if you want the deepest L2 DeFi. Skip it if you need instant native withdrawals.
Base
- Coinbase distribution to 100M+ users
- Lowest fees among major L2s
- Explosive consumer and social-app growth
- Coinbase-operated sequencer
- Memecoin noise
Choose it if you're onboarding newcomers. Skip it if you avoid corporate-run infrastructure.
Optimism (OP Mainnet)
- OP Stack powers Base, Soneium, Unichain and more
- Fault proofs live
- RetroPGF funds public goods
- TVL below Arbitrum/Base
- Governance complexity
Choose it if you build on the OP Stack. Skip it if you only chase liquidity.
zkSync Era
- Validity proofs — no challenge window
- Native account abstraction
- Elastic chain network
- Smaller DeFi than optimistic peers
- Decentralisation still in progress
Choose it if you want ZK security guarantees. Skip it if you need the largest liquidity pools.
Polygon (PoS + zkEVM)
- Most enterprise and brand integrations
- Very low fees on PoS
- AggLayer vision unifies chains
- PoS is a sidechain, not a rollup
- zkEVM adoption modest
Choose it if you need brand-friendly, cheap transactions. Skip it if you require strict rollup security.
Starknet
- STARK proofs, no trusted setup
- Native account abstraction
- Fast fee reductions
- Cairo language learning curve
- Smaller ecosystem
Choose it if you want cutting-edge cryptography. Skip it if you need Solidity compatibility.
Scroll
- Bytecode-level EVM equivalence
- Clean security model
- Steady growth
- Lower TVL
- Fewer flagship apps
Choose it if you want ZK without rewriting contracts. Skip it if you need the busiest chain.
Frequently asked questions
Are L2s safe?
Safer than most alt-L1s because they post data to Ethereum, but each has upgrade keys and sequencer trust assumptions. Check its stage on L2BEAT before parking large sums.
How do I move funds to an L2?
Use the official bridge or withdraw directly from an exchange that supports the L2 (Coinbase → Base, Binance → Arbitrum). Our Step 6 chapter walks through it.
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