Optimism vs Arbitrum
Optimism and Arbitrum are the two leading Ethereum layer-2s. Both use ETH for gas, the ERC-20 standard and MetaMask — here is how they compare for launching a token.
Quick comparison
| Optimism | Arbitrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Optimistic rollup (OP Stack) | Optimistic rollup (Nitro) |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Gas coin | ETH | ETH |
| Typical fee | ~$0.01 | ~$0.02 |
| Main DEX | Velodrome / Uniswap | Camelot / Uniswap |
Fees & speed
Both are cheap L2s settling to Ethereum. Fees on each are usually a cent or two and vary with Ethereum activity. For most token launches the cost difference is negligible — pick based on ecosystem.
Same standard
Both use ERC-20 and MetaMask, so your token is built the same way on either. Read ERC-20 explained.
Ecosystem
Arbitrum has the larger DeFi TVL and a big trading crowd (Camelot, GMX). Optimism anchors the Superchain (incl. Base) and has strong DeFi via Velodrome. Both have ample liquidity for new tokens.
Which should you choose?
Choose Optimism for the Superchain ecosystem and Velodrome liquidity; choose Arbitrum for the deepest L2 DeFi. You can launch on either in minutes: create on Optimism or create on Arbitrum.
Frequently asked questions
Is Optimism cheaper than Arbitrum?
They are very close — both usually a cent or two. Fees vary with Ethereum activity, so neither is consistently cheaper.
Can I use MetaMask for both?
Yes. Both are EVM L2s using ETH for gas and the same MetaMask address.
Which has more liquidity?
Arbitrum generally has higher DeFi TVL, while Optimism anchors the Superchain. Both are well-suited to new tokens.
Ready to create your Optimism token?
Launch a verified ERC-20 on Optimism — no code, low L2 fees, in minutes.
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