Optimism is a Layer 2 scaling solution built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. It aims to make Ethereum transactions faster and cheaper by processing them off the main chain while still relying on Ethereum's security. Optimism uses a technology called optimistic rollups.
Optimism bundles hundreds of transactions together off-chain, then posts a compressed summary to Ethereum. This approach reduces congestion and lowers gas fees significantly. The network assumes transactions are valid by default and only runs verification if someone challenges a transaction during a dispute period.
Most people buy Optimism on a major exchange. Binance has the lowest fees and the widest selection — here's the quick version:
OP is the native governance token of the Optimism network. Holders can vote on protocol upgrades, ecosystem fund allocations, and other decisions that shape the network's future direction.
Optimism processes transactions separately from Ethereum and settles them in batches. This makes transactions much faster and cheaper while still inheriting Ethereum's security guarantees.
Optimism Collective is the governance system governing the network. Superchain is the vision to connect multiple Layer 2 chains built using Optimism's open-source OP Stack technology into an interoperable ecosystem.