
Jakarta, Pintu News – In the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape, Layer-2 projects are making headlines for their ability to overcome scalability constraints and high fees on major blockchains like Ethereum .
With the support of a maturing ecosystem and real adoption, a number of crypto tokens from the Layer-2 category are considered to have significant potential to score major growth.
Here’s a roundup of the top 10 Layer-2 cryptos worth keeping an eye on in 2026, complete with their core technology and utility!

Polygon is a Layer-2 network originally known as Matic Network and was built to provide a scalability solution for Ethereum. POL tokens allow users and developers to create and connect their own blockchains to the Ethereum network with greater efficiency.
With a large ecosystem that includes more than 28,000 contract creators, 220 million unique addresses, and 2.45 billion transactions, Polygon confirms its position as one of the most successful scaling platforms. Side-chain technology and compatibility with Ethereum make the project an important bridge between mass adoption and cost efficiency.

Arbitrum was developed by Offchain Labs as a Layer-2 solution that allows Ethereum projects and users to move the transaction load to a separate layer while maintaining the security of the main layer. The ARB token grants governance rights and participation in the decision-making of the Arbitrum ecosystem.
Through roll-up technology that aggregates multiple transactions into one and sends it to the main ledger, Arbitrum manages to reduce transaction fees and increase network throughput. This innovation is all the more important when the main load of the main blockchain is getting higher.

Optimism (OP) is an Ethereum-based Layer-2 solution that uses optimistic rollup technology to simplify the transaction process and maintain security. With hundreds of millions of dollars locked (TVL) in smart contracts, the project has become one of the leading networks in the Layer-2 category.
OP tokens allow holders to take part in protocol governance decisions and network development. The ability to utilize Ethereum security at a low cost makes Optimism attractive to DeFi developers and users.

Shibarium is a Layer-2 network built to support the Shiba Inu (SHIB) ecosystem-including the metaverse world and SHI stablecoin-on top of Ethereum. Its main focus is to improve scalability and transaction efficiency for the rapidly growing Shiba Inu project.
With the launch of the metaverse and an increasingly complex ecosystem, Shibarium is positioned as a major hosting platform. Although still in development, the network is drawing attention as an example of how Layer-2 can be specialized for specific communities and projects.
Also read: 10 Crypto DEXs That Could Potentially Rise by 2026

Immutable X is a Layer-2 network optimized for gaming and NFT applications on top of Ethereum. The platform offers users gas fee-free transactions, as well as an API that makes it easy for developers to create blockchain NFT and gaming projects.
The IMX token serves as an incentive and governance tool for the ecosystem. With the growing interest in Web3 games and digital collectibles, Immutable X provides an infrastructure that allows large projects to utilize blockchain without high cost barriers.

zkSync is a Layer-2 protocol that uses zero-knowledge rollup (ZK-rollup) technology to expand Ethereum’s transaction capacity while maintaining decentralization and security. Through cryptographic proofs, it enables efficient and secure verification of transactions.
With the support of DeFi applications such as Curve and Yearn Finance, zkSync shows that the ZK-rollup solution is not just hype but has real adoption. ZKS tokens incentivize network participants and allow users to participate in governance.

Mantle (MNT) is a modular Layer-2 solution that delivers a flexible network structure for various transaction types and applications on the Ethereum blockchain. MNT tokens are at the center of governance and development decisions in the ecosystem.
With a modular architecture that allows the separation of functions such as storage and computing, Mantle aims to provide a foundation for large-scale, decentralized applications. Although relatively new, the project is already showing promising capacity.
Read also: 3 Altcoins that Show Bullish Signals in November 2025

Loopring is a Layer-2 network focused on fast transactions and low fees with the integration of zkRollup technology as well as automated market maker (AMM) and order book exchange features. LRC tokens are used to incentivize ecosystem and governance participation.
With a capacity of over 2,000 transactions per second, Loopring is one of the most efficient networks in the Layer-2 category. The platform is suitable for users looking for cost-effective DeFi and trading solutions within the Ethereum ecosystem.

dYdX is a decentralized exchange that has migrated to a Layer-2 solution to support derivatives and margin trading without gas fees and with fast execution. The DYDX token plays an important role in the staking, governance, and liquidity of the platform.
As one of the largest volume DEXs, dYdX demonstrates that even complex financial applications can run on top of Layer-2 with competitive performance. This opens up great opportunities for users looking for advanced financial products in the crypto ecosystem.

SKALE (SKL) offers a different approach: a network of adaptable side-chains built on top of Ethereum for applications with specific needs such as gaming or privacy. SKL tokens are used for staking and securing the network.
With the ability to choose application-specific side-chains-whether high throughput or high privacy-SKALE demonstrates great flexibility in the Layer-2 space. This approach appeals to developers looking for design-build solutions for specialized dApps.
These ten Layer-2 cryptos show that the evolution of blockchain is not only happening at the main layer, but also in solutions that make the technology more efficient, cheaper, and affordable. For investors and users interested in the crypto and DeFi sectors, understanding the architectural differences and utility of each token is key. While great potential is on the horizon, technical and regulatory risks still apply-so personal research and evaluation is essential before stepping into an investment.
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*Disclaimer
This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.
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