What Are Layer 2 Networks?
Scaling solutions that process transactions faster and cheaper than the main Ethereum chain.
Layer 2 (L2) networks are blockchain protocols built on top of Ethereum that process transactions off the main chain, then batch-settle them on Ethereum for security. This dramatically reduces gas fees and increases speed. Examples include Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, and Optimism.
Why L2s Matter for Payments
On Ethereum mainnet, a USDT transfer can cost $5-50 in gas. On L2s like Polygon or Base, the same transfer costs less than $0.01. This makes small and medium payments economically viable on blockchain.
L2s Supported by Zateway
Zateway supports 4 L2 networks: Polygon (PoS chain), Base (Coinbase's L2), Arbitrum (optimistic rollup), and Optimism (optimistic rollup). Plus Solana (alt-L1) and BNB Chain (alt-L1) for maximum coverage.
Rollups vs Sidechains
Arbitrum and Optimism are optimistic rollups — they inherit Ethereum's security. Polygon is a sidechain with its own consensus. Base is built on the OP Stack (optimistic rollup). All offer sub-cent transaction fees.