Ethereum's high transaction fees and limited throughput have long been pain points, but Layer 2 (L2) solutions are reshaping the narrative. Latest chain data reveals that leading L2 networks like Optimism and Arbitrum now surpass Ethereum mainnet in both transaction handling speed and cost efficiency.
TPS: L2 Outpaces Mainnet by Nearly 50%
According to Flipside Crypto, the combined daily TPS of Optimism and Arbitrum in 2023 year-to-date stands at 17, compared to Ethereum mainnet's 12. That is roughly a 42% advantage for L2s. Arbitrum has consistently posted higher TPS than mainnet since late February, while Optimism lags behind both. Higher TPS indicates a network's capacity to process large volumes of activity—precisely what scaling solutions aim to deliver.
Fees: L2 Average $0.19 vs. Mainnet $4.17
The cost gap is even more striking. Dune data shows the combined average transaction fee on Optimism and Arbitrum over the past year was just $0.19, versus Ethereum mainnet's $4.17. That means using L2s saves users over 22x on average. In a broader view, the two L2s achieved 98% of mainnet's TPS at just 3.99% of its cost—a vivid demonstration of scalability and inclusivity.
Key Difference from Sidechains
The fundamental distinction between L2 rollups (like Optimism and Arbitrum) and sidechains (like Polygon) lies in their relationship with the mainnet. Rollups batch transactions and post data to Ethereum mainnet for consensus, inheriting its security and decentralization. Sidechains use two-way bridges and do not post data to mainnet, making trade-offs in security. Moreover, fees on rollups are paid in ETH, reinforcing the link to the main chain.
Explosive Growth in Active Addresses and TVL
Lower barriers have attracted a surge of users and capital. Since July 2022, Optimism's 7-day SMA of daily active addresses surged 1,154% (adding ~92,000 addresses), while Arbitrum rose 543% (adding ~137,000 addresses). Total value locked (TVL) across both networks jumped from under $1 billion in July 2022 to about $3.5 billion today. Arbitrum TVL grew 255% and Optimism TVL grew 263% over the period. These numbers underscore L2s as a rapidly expanding pillar of the Ethereum ecosystem.