Optimism vs Base
Optimism and Base are sibling layer-2s — Base is built on Optimism's OP Stack and part of the Superchain. Here is how they compare for launching a token.
Quick comparison
| Optimism | Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Built on | OP Stack | OP Stack (by Coinbase) |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Gas coin | ETH | ETH |
| Typical fee | ~$0.01 | ~$0.01 |
| Main DEX | Velodrome / Uniswap | Aerodrome / Uniswap |
How they relate
Both run on the OP Stack and belong to the Superchain. Base is operated by Coinbase, which gives it a huge retail on-ramp and fast-growing memecoin scene. Optimism is the original OP chain with mature DeFi.
Fees
Nearly identical — both are cheap OP-Stack L2s with fees usually around a cent, paid in ETH.
Ecosystem
Base has explosive retail and memecoin activity thanks to the Coinbase pipeline (Aerodrome). Optimism has a broad, established DeFi base (Velodrome). Either is great for a new token.
Which should you choose?
Choose Base if you want Coinbase's retail reach and memecoin momentum; choose Optimism for the original Superchain hub and Velodrome. Launch on either: create on Optimism or create on Base.
Frequently asked questions
Are Optimism and Base the same?
They are siblings — Base is built on Optimism's OP Stack and both are part of the Superchain. They are separate chains with their own ecosystems.
Which is cheaper?
Both are about a cent per transaction in ETH — essentially the same.
Which is better for a memecoin?
Base has stronger retail and memecoin momentum via Coinbase, while Optimism has broad established DeFi. Both work well.
Ready to create your Optimism token?
Launch a verified ERC-20 on Optimism — no code, low L2 fees, in minutes.
Create your token