Deploy on Optimism for fast, low-cost Ethereum scaling with optimistic rollup technology. Compare Optimism's EVM compatibility, DeFi ecosystem, and governance model.

Optimism is Ethereum's leading optimistic rollup, powering a $1.5+ billion DeFi ecosystem with projects like Uniswap, Aave, and Synthetix. Built for security, simplicity, and sustainability, Optimism delivers 10x lower costs and faster finality while maintaining full Ethereum compatibility.

Which projects thrive on Optimism?

DeFi Protocols

Uniswap, Aave, Synthetix, and other major DeFi platforms leveraging Optimism's low fees and Ethereum security for better user experience.

NFT Marketplaces

OpenSea, Foundation, and creators using Optimism for affordable NFT minting and trading without compromising on security.

DAO Governance

Organizations using OP governance tokens and Optimism's infrastructure for decentralized decision-making and treasury management.

Social & Gaming

Web3 social platforms and blockchain games requiring frequent transactions with minimal costs for user engagement.

Public Goods Funding: Optimism dedicates a portion of sequencer revenue to funding public goods, supporting Ethereum ecosystem development and open-source innovation.

The basics

It uses Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which means that developers can deploy their existing Ethereum dapps to Optimism without any changes. In addition to scalability and compatibility, Optimism is also focused on decentralization. The Optimism network is secured by a decentralized network of validators, and it is governed by a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization). This ensures that Optimism is not controlled by any single entity.

How does Optimism deliver Ethereum security with Layer 2 speed?

Transaction Speed: 1-5 seconds vs 12+ minutes on Ethereum
Throughput: 2,000+ TPS capacity
Withdrawal Time: 7 days (standard optimistic rollup security)
Block Time: 2 seconds average

Gas Costs: 90%+ reduction from Ethereum mainnet
DeFi Operations: $0.10-2.00 per transaction
NFT Trading: $0.50-5.00 per trade
OP Token Utility: Governance participation and gas payment

Total Value Locked: $1.5+ billion in DeFi protocols
Major DApps: Uniswap, Aave, Synthetix, Worldcoin
Daily Transactions: 500K+ daily transactions
Developer Tools: Full Ethereum compatibility

Available Networks

OP Mainnet

Production optimistic rollup with ETH for gas fees and OP for governance. Home to major DeFi protocols and $1.5B+ TVL.

OP Sepolia Testnet

Development environment with free test ETH for experimentation. Perfect for testing DeFi integrations and optimistic rollup features.

Why choose optimistic rollups for your Layer 2 strategy?

Optimism's optimistic rollup technology provides a balanced approach to scaling, prioritizing security and simplicity while delivering significant performance improvements.

Optimistic Rollup Benefits

Optimistic Execution

Transactions are assumed valid by default, enabling fast processing without complex validity proofs.

Fraud Proof Security

Anyone can challenge invalid transactions during a 7-day window, ensuring network security through economic incentives.

EVM Equivalence

Full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility means existing contracts deploy without modification.

Ethereum Settlement

Final settlement on Ethereum mainnet provides ultimate security and decentralization.

OP Stack: Modular Blockchain Infrastructure

Customizable Rollups

Build custom Layer 2 chains using the open-source OP Stack, sharing security and liquidity with the Optimism ecosystem.

Superchain Vision

Join the emerging Superchain network of interoperable OP Stack chains, creating a unified scaling ecosystem.

Governance Participation

OP token holders vote on protocol upgrades, public goods funding, and network parameters in the Optimism Collective.

Enterprise Adoption: Coinbase's Base chain uses OP Stack technology, validating Optimism's infrastructure for enterprise-scale applications.

More information can be found on the official Optimism website.

Optimism