Optimism, Arbitrum, and Base are all Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) scaling solutions that use optimistic rollups to enhance transaction speed and reduce fees while maintaining Ethereum’s security.

Best for Developers: Arbitrum (largest adoption + Nitro upgrade).

Best for Governance & Decentralization: Arbitrum (DAO-led model).

Best for Retail & Coinbase Users: Base (easy fiat on-ramp + user-friendly).

Best for Future Scalability: Optimism (Superchain + OP Stack expansion).

Each has strengths depending on use cases, but Arbitrum currently leads in TVL, while Base is growing fast thanks to Coinbase’s backing. Optimism, with its Superchain concept, is setting up for long-term interoperability.