Base is the easiest Ethereum layer 2 for most users: it is built by Coinbase, needs no separate token for gas, and its code is public under MIT. The trade-off shared by optimistic rollups is time: withdrawals from Base, Arbitrum and OP Mainnet to Ethereum wait about 7 days. ZK rollups cut that, to about 3 hours on ZKsync and a median of about 2 hours on Linea.
Quick answer
Use Base for everyday apps and Coinbase on-ramps, Arbitrum for DeFi, and a ZK rollup such as ZKsync or Linea if you need to move funds back to Ethereum in hours rather than 7 days.
- 01Base: best for most users
- 02Arbitrum: best for DeFi
- 03OP Mainnet: best for OP Stack apps
- 04ZKsync: best for fast exits
- 05Linea: Best ZK rollup for EVM
The 6 best layer 2 networks
Base is built by Coinbase, uses ETH for gas with no separate token, and publishes its node software under MIT. Each transaction pays an L2 execution fee plus an L1 security fee.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Fees
- L2 execution fee plus L1 security fee
- Company
- Built by Coinbase
- Open source
- Yes, MIT license (github.com/base/base)
Pros
- Swaps and sends inside Base do not wait for the 7-day withdrawal window
- Node software published under the MIT license on GitHub
- No separate network token needed to pay gas
Cons
- Withdrawals to Ethereum take 7 days to finalize
- L1 security fee is typically higher than the L2 execution fee
- Built by a single company, Coinbase
Skip it if you often withdraw to Ethereum: exits wait 7 days.
Arbitrum One runs Offchain Labs' open-source Nitro software and lets users force inclusion if the sequencer stalls. Its challenge period is 45,818 blocks, about 6.4 days.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Fees
- L2 network fee plus parent chain (L1) data poster fee
- Token
- ARB (governance)
- Company
- Offchain Labs (Nitro implementation)
Pros
- BoLD dispute protocol resolves challenges within a fixed period
- Nitro node code is public on GitHub
- Censorship timeout lets users force inclusion if the Sequencer stalls
Cons
- Withdrawals to Ethereum take about 7 days
- Sequencer is still centralized per Arbitrum docs, with decentralization a long-term goal
- Withdrawal claims must be executed manually on Ethereum
Skip it if you want a decentralized sequencer today: Arbitrum's docs call that a long-term goal.
OP Mainnet is the reference OP Stack chain, with code under MIT. Transactions finalize on Ethereum in about 15 to 30 minutes, and users can force inclusion from L1 if the sequencer is down.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Fees
- Execution gas fee plus L1 data fee plus operator fee (after Isthmus)
- Open source
- Yes, MIT license (github.com/ethereum-optimism/optimism)
Pros
- Transactions finalize on Ethereum in about 15 to 30 minutes
- OP Stack code is public under the MIT license
- Forced inclusion from L1 if the Sequencer goes down
Cons
- Standard Bridge withdrawals are delayed 7 days
- Soft finality relies on a single Sequencer run by the chain operator
- Extra operator fee component after the Isthmus upgrade
Skip it if you use the Standard Bridge to exit: withdrawals wait 7 days.
ZKsync proves every batch with zero-knowledge proofs, and its execution delay was cut from 21 hours to at least 3 hours, so full finality is about 3 hours. Node code is public under Apache-2.0.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Fees
- L2 fee that includes L1 pubdata cost, varies with L1 gas prices
- Open source
- Yes, Apache-2.0 (github.com/matter-labs/zksync-era)
Pros
- Full finality in about 3 hours, not 7 days
- Execution delay gives time to freeze the protocol if a bug is exploited
- Node code public under Apache-2.0
Cons
- Opcode pricing differs from Ethereum, e.g. keccak256 costs more
- L2 fees move with volatile L1 gas prices
- Validator role is controlled by the team behind a time lock
Skip it if you port gas-tuned Ethereum contracts: some opcodes, such as keccak256, cost more.
Linea is a zkEVM incubated within Consensys. Gas is paid in ETH, soft finality takes about 1 second and median hard finality about 2 hours. Its monorepo is public under Apache-2.0.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Company
- Incubated within Consensys
- Token
- LINEA (no governance rights; gas paid in ETH)
- Fees
- Gas used times (base fee plus priority fee), paid in ETH
Pros
- Median hard finality about 2 hours, no 7-day fraud proof lockup
- Gas paid in ETH, no token needed to use the network
- Monorepo public under Apache-2.0
Cons
- LINEA token has no governance rights
- Hard finality can take up to 16 hours under normal conditions
- Planned cut of hard finality to under 30 minutes is not live yet
Skip it if you want governance rights: the LINEA token has none.
Starknet settles batches with STARK proofs, so there is no fraud proof window. Since v0.14.0 on September 1, 2025, fees are paid only in STRK.
- Chains
- Ethereum L2
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Token
- STRK (fees, staking, governance)
- Fees
- L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data; paid only in STRK since v0.14.0
- Open source
- Yes, Apache-2.0 (github.com/starkware-libs/sequencer)
Pros
- Validity proofs, no fraud proof window
- STRK also used for staking and governance
- Sequencer code public under Apache-2.0
Cons
- Fees only payable in STRK since v0.14.0, not ETH
- Not EVM, contracts use Cairo
- Part of STRK fees may be converted to ETH by the sequencer to cover L1 gas
Skip it if you want to deploy Solidity: Starknet contracts use Cairo.
Not on this list
Polygon: Polygon PoS is a proof-of-stake chain anchored to Ethereum, not a rollup, so we cover it separately.
scroll: scroll.io now presents an AI product; we could not confirm the chain from its main site.
Layer 2 Networks compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | Fees | Chains | Token |
|---|
| Base | Everyday apps, no gas token | L2 execution fee plus L1 security fee | Ethereum L2 | Not verified |
|---|
| Arbitrum | DeFi on an optimistic rollup | L2 network fee plus parent chain (L1) data poster fee | Ethereum L2 | ARB (governance) |
|---|
| OP Mainnet | OP Stack ecosystem | Execution gas fee plus L1 data fee plus operator fee (after Isthmus) | Ethereum L2 | Not verified |
|---|
| ZKsync | Exits in about 3 hours | L2 fee that includes L1 pubdata cost, varies with L1 gas prices | Ethereum L2 | Not verified |
|---|
| Linea | zkEVM, gas paid in ETH | Gas used times (base fee plus priority fee), paid in ETH | Ethereum L2 | LINEA (no governance rights; gas paid in ETH) |
|---|
| Starknet | STARK proofs, Cairo | L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data; paid only in STRK since v0.14.0 | Ethereum L2 | STRK (fees, staking, governance) |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank layer 2 networks
- 01Rollup type: optimistic or ZK, which decides how long withdrawals to Ethereum take.
- 02Fee model: how the network's own docs split the fee between L2 execution and L1 data.
- 03Withdrawal time: time to finalize an exit to Ethereum, from the network's docs.
- 04Sequencer and escape hatch: who orders transactions and whether users can force inclusion from Ethereum.
- 05Open source: whether node code is public on GitHub.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
How to choose
Optimistic vs ZK
Base, Arbitrum and OP Mainnet assume transactions are valid and allow a challenge window, so exits take about 7 days. ZKsync, Linea and Starknet post proofs, so exits take hours.
Use a bridge to skip the wait
Third-party bridges such as Across move funds out of an L2 in minutes for a fee, instead of waiting out the 7-day window. See our bridges list.
Check the gas token
Base, Arbitrum, OP Mainnet and Linea use ETH for gas. Starknet requires STRK since September 1, 2025.
Who should skip all of these
- Anyone picking a token to invest in: this list compares networks, and Base has no token at all.
- Solana or Bitcoin users: these are Ethereum rollups.
Bottom line
Base and Arbitrum cover most users; choose a ZK rollup when exit time to Ethereum matters.
Before moving large amounts, read how each network handles a stalled sequencer: Arbitrum and OP Mainnet let users force inclusion from Ethereum.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
What is a layer 2 blockchain?
±
A network that runs transactions off Ethereum and posts data or proofs back to it. Rollups like Base and ZKsync inherit settlement from Ethereum.
Why do withdrawals from Arbitrum or Base take 7 days?
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They are optimistic rollups: withdrawals wait out a challenge period so invalid state can be disputed. Arbitrum's is 45,818 blocks, about 6.4 days.
Which layer 2 is fastest to withdraw from?
±
Of those we checked, ZK rollups: Linea's median hard finality is about 2 hours and ZKsync's about 3 hours.
Does Base have a token?
±
No. Base uses ETH for gas and has no separate network token.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: six Ethereum layer 2 networks ranked on rollup type, fees, withdrawal time and open code.