Welcome to the Token Metrics Moon Awards, a prestigious cryptocurrency industry accolade recognizing platforms, projects, and initiatives with significant impact.
Today, we are thrilled to announce the addition of a new Moon Awards category for 2024 - the Top Layer 2 Blockchain.
Selection Process
At Token Metrics, we highly value our audience as the cornerstone of our operations. Our selection process is deeply rooted in community engagement, ensuring that our awards' results authentically mirror crypto enthusiasts' sentiments and experiences.
Amplifying Community Insights
The Moon Awards by Token Metrics are designed to amplify the community's voice, providing a clear and focused evaluation of the entities driving progress in the sector.
Through interaction with our community members and user voting, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the Top Layer 2 Blockchains for 2024 based on extensive survey data and user votes.
In this article, we will explore the concept of Layer 2 blockchain, how it works, and the top Layer 2 blockchain projects of 2024.
What is Layer 2 Blockchain?
A Layer 2 blockchain refers to a collection of scaling solutions designed to improve the performance and scalability of Layer-1 blockchains such as Ethereum.Β
These Layer-2 protocols operate on top of the primary blockchain, alleviating congestion, reducing transaction costs, and boosting throughput.
To understand Layer 2 blockchain, let's imagine a highway where traffic flows smoothly, transactions are processed at lightning speed, and fees are almost negligible.Β
Layer 2 protocols in the crypto world can be compared to express lanes built on top of Layer-1 blockchains, supercharging their performance and scalability.
How Does Layer 2 Blockchain Work?
At the core of Layer 2 networks is the principle of off-chain transaction processing. Instead of directly processing each transaction on the main blockchain, Layer-2 protocols divert transactions off the main chain, process them separately, and then consolidate them into a summary transaction on the main blockchain.Β
This approach significantly reduces network congestion, processing time, and transaction costs. Layer-2 protocols act as dedicated traffic management systems, diverting transactions away from the main blockchain and processing them on secondary networks.Β
This offloading process leads to faster transactions, lower fees, and increased throughput, ultimately enhancing the scalability and efficiency of the blockchain network.
List of Top Layer 2 Blockchain Projects
Here are some of the top Layer 2 blockchain projects to watch in 2024:
Polygon (MATIC)
In the Moon Awards survey, Polygon secured the top position with 57.3% of the total votes.
Polygon is a multichain ecosystem offering several Layer-2 solutions to scale Ethereum. It utilizes technologies like zkRollups for high-speed, privacy-focused transactions and Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanisms for sidechains.Β
With a throughput exceeding 65,000 TPS, Polygon significantly outperforms Ethereum's mainnet regarding transaction speed and cost-effectiveness. It has a thriving DeFi scene and is popular among NFT enthusiasts.
Arbitrum
In the Moon Awards survey, Arbitrum secured the 2nd position with 22.8% of the total votes.
Arbitrum, built on Optimistic Rollups, offers a peak throughput of 4,000 TPS, processing transactions up to 10x faster than Ethereum's mainnet. It reduces gas costs by up to 95% and provides a developer-friendly environment.Β
With a robust ecosystem of DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and gaming platforms, Arbitrum is positioned as a key contender in the Layer 2 space.
Optimism
In the Moon Awards survey, Optimism secured the 3rd position with 6.1% of the total votes.
Optimism is a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum, offering high throughput and reduced gas costs. With a peak throughput of 2,000 TPS, Optimism processes transactions up to 26x faster than Ethereum's mainnet.Β
It is committed to becoming a self-governing community and hosts a growing array of DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and DAOs.
Manta Network
In the Moon Awards survey, Manta Network secured the 4th position with 3.3% of the total votes.
Manta Network is a privacy-focused ecosystem for Ethereum, providing anonymous transactions and confidential smart contracts.Β
It comprises two modules: Manta Pacific, an EVM-compatible Layer-2 for efficient transactions, and Manta Atlantic, which handles private identity management using zkSBTs.Β
Manta Network promises high scalability, developer-friendliness, and strong interoperability with Ethereum and other blockchains.
Immutable X
In the Moon Awards survey, Immutable X secured the 5th position with 2.8% of the total votes.
Immutable X is a Layer-2 network on Ethereum designed to provide speed, scalability, and adaptability for the next era of crypto gaming. It offers a robust network equipped with tools and infrastructure for developing NFT projects.Β
Immutable X incorporates Ethereum's security, zero gas fees, and user-friendly APIs. It hosts an immersive marketplace for trading and collecting NFTs.
SKALE
In the Moon Awards survey, SKALE secured the 6th position with 2.4% of the total votes.
SKALE takes a distinctive approach to enhancing Ethereum scalability by utilizing a network of independent "sidechains" built atop the Ethereum blockchain.Β
These sidechains, known as SKALE Chains, provide tailored environments for specific applications, accommodating diverse requirements in terms of security, privacy, and transaction fees. SKALE offers flexibility and innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Metis
In the Moon Awards survey, Metis secured the 7th position with 1.5% of the total votes.
Metis is a Layer-2 network aiming to provide scalable and accessible infrastructure for decentralized applications (dApps).Β
It offers a user-friendly environment for developers to create, deploy, and manage dApps efficiently. Metis focuses on empowering individuals and businesses to build decentralized economies and communities.
Base
In the Moon Awards survey, Base secured the 8th position with 1.3% of the total votes.
Base is a Layer-2 protocol developed by Coinbase to enhance Ethereum's potential by increasing transaction speed and reducing fees. It targets a throughput of 2,000 TPS and aims to cut Ethereum's gas costs by up to 95%.Β
Base leverages Ethereum's security while processing transactions off-chain, ensuring asset safety. It offers a developer-friendly environment and benefits from Coinbase's security expertise and large user base.
These Layer 2 blockchain projects represent the cutting edge of blockchain scalability and efficiency. They offer solutions to the scalability challenges faced by Layer-1 blockchains, enabling faster transactions, lower fees, and improved user experiences.
Conclusion
Layer-2 blockchain solutions are revolutionizing the scalability and efficiency of blockchain networks. These innovative protocols, such as Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Manta, and others, are addressing the limitations of Layer-1 blockchains and unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology.Β
As the adoption of cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications continues to grow, Layer-2 solutions will play a crucial role in driving mainstream blockchain adoption and powering diverse industries beyond finance.
Investors and developers should closely monitor the progress of these Layer 2 blockchain projects and conduct thorough research before making any investment or development decisions. The future of blockchain technology is bright, and Layer-2 solutions are at the forefront of this exciting evolution.
Disclaimer
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