Linea vs Arbitrum
Linea and Arbitrum are both Ethereum layer-2s that use ETH for gas and the ERC-20 standard — but they use different rollup tech. Here is how they compare for tokens.
Quick comparison
| Linea | Arbitrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Rollup type | zk-rollup (zkEVM) | Optimistic rollup |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Gas coin | ETH | ETH |
| Typical fee | < $0.01 | ~$0.02 |
| Withdrawal to L1 | Fast (proof-based) | ~7-day challenge |
zk vs optimistic
Linea is a zk-rollup: it proves transactions cryptographically, so withdrawals to Ethereum finalize quickly. Arbitrum is an optimistic rollup with a challenge period for L1 withdrawals. For day-to-day token use the difference is mostly invisible.
Fees & speed
Both are cheap and fast, paying gas in ETH. Linea is often a touch cheaper; Arbitrum has more total liquidity. For most launches either is excellent.
Ecosystem
Arbitrum has the larger L2 DeFi ecosystem (GMX, Camelot, Uniswap). Linea is newer but backed by the MetaMask team with growing DeFi. Both have ample liquidity for new tokens.
Which should you choose?
Choose Linea for zkEVM tech and MetaMask alignment; choose Arbitrum for the deepest L2 DeFi. Launch on either: create on Linea or create on Arbitrum.
Frequently asked questions
Is a zk-rollup better than an optimistic rollup?
Each has trade-offs. zk-rollups (Linea) finalize withdrawals faster; optimistic rollups (Arbitrum) currently have larger ecosystems. For token launches both work great.
Do both use ETH for gas?
Yes — both Linea and Arbitrum pay gas in ETH and use the same MetaMask address.
Which has lower fees?
They are close; Linea is often slightly cheaper, but both are a cent or two.
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