10 Best High-Yield Layer 2 Tokens to Stake

In this article, I will cover Best High-Yield Layer 2 Tokens to Stake, focusing on the most attractive tokens with strategically high staking rewards and the benefits of low fees and high scalability associated with Layer 2 solutions.

These tokens are strategically planned to provide high returns while ensuring participation in the fast-evolving ecosystems of the blockchain world.

Key Points & Best High-Yield Layer 2 Tokens to Stake

10 Best High-Yield Layer 2 Tokens to Stake

1.Arbitrum (ARB)

Arbitrum (ARB) ranks among the most popular listed Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum due to its ecosystem and the low fees associated with it. With the ecosystem developing, it is becoming more appealing to stake ARB and other high-yield tokens on Arbitrum.

Some of the top options include GMX, a decentralized perpetual exchange providing real yield from trading fees, and Radiant Capital (RDNT), which offers cross-chain lending with a solid APY return.

Also, a gaming and metaverse hub, Treasure (MAGIC), gives strong community backing to staking while providing opportunities in the newly forming metaverse. These tokens not only yield competitively but are also substantiavlly trapped into Arbitrium’s developing DeFi ecosystem.

Features Arbitrum (ARB)

• Deployment of low-cost and high-speed transactions within Ethereum using Optimistic Rollup technology.
• Ethereum compatibility enables smooth operations within the ecosystem with the use of smart contracts.
• Most widely adopted Layer 2 solution due to enhanced adoption within the DeFi ecosystem.
• A wide range of projects built on top Arbitrum supported by active developers and ecosystem.
• Eases congestion and gas fees without throttling decentralization.

2.Optimism (OP)

The Ethereum ecosystem is well served by Optimism OP which is a Layer 2 Solutions. Having a low fee structure as well as DeFi services is another advantage.

In the context of DEX, Velodrome with its vote-escrow model and liquidity rewards is the main DEX on the Optimism network, while also offering high-yield staking.

There are also great yields on offer for lenders and liquidity providers from the Sonne Finance SONNE lending protocol. Auto-compounding tokens from Beefy Finance’s vaults on Optimism also boosts token staking revenue.

Yield can also be generated by staking OP tokens directly through governance or other third-parties, especially with Optimism Collectives Ecosystem fund aimed at increasing ecosystem participation.

Features Optimism (OP)

• Uses Optimistic Rollup techniques in building Layer 2 applications to enhance Ethereum’s scalability.
• Ethereum compatibility allows dApps to function without hindrances.
• Strives for enhanced decentralized governance under Optimism Collective with retroactive public goods funding.
• Enhanced experience through fast transaction finality and low fees.
• Advances within the DeFi ecosystem, developing new applications.

3.Starknet (STRK)

Starknet (STRK) is a newly minted Layer 2 network expanding on Ethereum with zk-STARKs security. Cheaper and more carve out ‘staking’ spaces for opportunistic capital seekers are commercializing as the ecosystem grows.

Although direct STRK staking is expected after token launch, zkLend and Nostra are already gaining traction by offering more attractive returns on borrowing and liquidity provision.

Moreover, some native DEXs like JediSwap are expected to implement staking and yield farming reward schemes.

Efforts to implement yield optimization strategies on Starknet are nascent, but engaging now comes with the prospective of significant benefits and future airdrops within this fast developing zk-rollup ecosystem.

Features Starknet (STRK)

• Enhanced security and high scalability through ZK-Rollup using STARK proofs.
• Reductions in transactions costs and improvements towards Ethereum scalability.
• High secure dApps through Ethereum compatible smart contracts.
• Focus primarily on decentralized applications (dApps) through the Web3 scope.
• Developing DeFi ecosystem along with future opportunities for various decentralized use cases.

4.Immutable X (IMX)

Immutable X (IMX) leads the field of NFT Layer 2 solutions, offering gasless minting and trading through zk-rollups. Traditional IMX token staking is somewhat limited, but the platform provides staking rewards to users who actively trade and hold IMX in their wallets.

High yield opportunities are also available from other ecosystem projects such as Gods Unchained and Guild of Guardians where players can earn in-game tokens or other rewards through staking or gameplay.

With more gaming partnerships forming, Immutable will incorporate more DeFi-like passive earning and blockchain gaming exposure on a scalable L2 infrastructure.

Features Immutable X (IMX)

• Blockchains employing gasless minting and trading NFTs utilize this specific ZK-Rollup Technology.
• Delivers smooth user interaction through low latency and high throughput.
• NFT ecosystems within games and marketplaces are integrated with scaling focus.
• NFT creators and collectors solution is NFT marketplace provides is robust and flexible.
• Leading gaming and NFT platforms are already embracing the technology.

5.Mantle (MNT)

Mantle (MNT), with its low fees and high throughput, is a modular Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain powered by EigenDA for data availability. Users can stake MNT tokens to control governance and earn rewards, primarily through ecosystem incentives.

Other than that, high-yield opportunities stem from projects such as FusionX, a leading DEX on Mantle, and Agni Finance where users can stake LP tokens or farm yields.

Furthermore, Mantle’s treasury-backed incentives help optimize staking returns with consistent rewards while liquidity mining is boosted. As Mantle grows, early adopters can benefit from competitive APYs and systemic token distribution.

Features Mantle (MNT)

• To achieve scalability, it is an modular Layer 2 addressing low-cost transactions.
• Transaction fee and throughput optimization achieved through data availability via EigenDA.
• Targets computer games and decentralized applications (dApps).
• Part explorer, part builder of the use cases itself the ecosystem supports governed in a community-driven model.
• Strives to maintain the economy organized for the creators, users, and developers for flexibility and scalability.

6.zkSync (ZK)

zkSync (ZK) is one of the ZK-rollup Layer 2 solutions that provides Ethereum-compatible, fast and low-cost transactions.

Staking of native ZK tokens is anticipated after the airdrop, but there are already high-yield opportunities within the zkSync Era ecosystem.

SyncSwap and Mute.io serve as quieter APY-providing liquidity mining and yield farming incentives.

Velocore is another emerging DEX with competitive staking returns. zkSync vaults are also supported by auto-compounding services like Beefy Finance, which further increases yields.

Additional protocols and incentive programs which are under development can allow early participants to enjoy both staking rewards and potential airdrops while positioning zkSync as a differentiator in the DeFi yield market.

Features zkSync (ZK)

• Offers scaling within the network through the use of zero knowledge proofs with this ZK-Rollup solution.
• Integrates with the Ethereum security model receiving full support from Ethereum smart contracts.
• Growing the impressions of scalability supported by off-chain data storage through zkPorter.
• Strong emphasis on providing environment active on decentralized finance (DeFi), high-speed, and low cost transactions.
• Its addidtional speeds, saftey and efficiency supports many projects concepting it a ideal for for DeFi intensive and large scale projects.

7.Skale (SKL)

Skale (SKL) is one of a kind Layer 2 network which is Ethereum native and is designed for zero gas high throughput in dApps with special focus on gaming and DeFi. SKL Tokens provide staking features which directly yield the network

Whereas yield delegates receive reward portions from validators fees, which tends to average around 7-10 % annually. Staking is a non custodial procedure and can be executed via MetaMask wallet and other supporting platforms.

Skale does not traditionally attract yield farming but projects which are built on Skale like Razor Network and other emerging GameFi apps do have added chances for incentives.

Skale focusses on providing gas free access on increasing dApps and helps in providing sustaining passive income for people who hold crypto for long periods of time.

Features Skale (SKL)

• Multichain network natively built in Ethereum with ultra high throughput and gasless transactions.
• Tailored to fit the needs of new applications in gaming and dApps.
• For customization, provides developers with flexible and advance blockchain parameters.
• Targets great increasing of multi-dimensional elacticity to low-latency performance making it great for demanding applications.
• Ensures low cost, high performance, and reduced latency in processing for Ethereum-based dApps.

8.Coti (COTI)

Coti (COTI) functions as a layered system: a DAG-based Layer 1 protocol, optimized for payments, and a Layer 2 for Cardano through its support of the DJED stablecoin.

COTI token holders can benefit from attractive staking yield opportunities, particularly from its native Treasury staking system which allows earnings of up to 15% APY based on lock-up periods and economic demand.

COTI holders earn rewards from transaction fees generated across the network and the use of the DJED stablecoin.

Coti supports multiple staking options, including versatile and non-traditional ones like auto-compounding. With increasing adoption of DJED and Coti’s payment infrastructure, staking becomes an attractive source of passive income for high-yield return seekers.

Features Coti (COTI)

• Focuses on fast and scalably cheaper payment solutions for a DAG-based Layer 1 protocol.
• Powers Cardano’s DJED stablecoin with low fees and high throughput.
• Aimed at enterprise-level payment solutions and consumer-facing applications.
• Provides a Treasury-backed staking mechanishm sotturallyapyield advocates.
• A strong focus on providing a secure and balanced cost efficient payment network.

9.Celestia (TIA)

Celestia (TIA), a modular blockchain, sets out to provide data availability and consensus scalability for decentralized applications.

A project at the Layer 2 level, Celestia permits projects to independently handle their execution while leveraging Celestia’s security and scalability for data availability.

Through staking TIA tokens, users can partake in securing the network while earning from transaction fees, governance rewards, and incentives.

While competitive, staking yields are anticipated to be low for the time being as Celestia is in its early stages, and yields will vary based on demand on the network.

With increased adoption, other DeFi projects and additional staking mechanics will be able to improve the yield opportunities within the Celestia ecosystem.

Features Celestia (TIA)

• Designed to deliver data availability and consensus for decentralized applications, modular blockchain.
• Allows rollups to independently scale, with a focus on intricate and advanced system growth known as scalability.
• A secure and decentralized environment for data execution and availability layers.
• Focused on being developer friendly, enabling easy integration with other blockchain ecosystems making it open-source.
• With a high scalability need targeted, dApp developers are provided a robust solution.

10.Loopring (LRC)

Loopring (LRC) is a self-custody decentralized exchange (DEX) solution that incorporates ZK-Rollup Layer 2 technology for self-custody.

Staking LRC tokens, particularly on the Loopring Exchange where users earn rewards from transaction fees and trading volume, gives high returns on investment.

The platform also provides enhanced returns through partnerships with other DeFi protocols and, additionally, Beefy Finance features auto-compounding vaults for LRC.

Staking LRC provides opportunities for passive income as adoption of Loopring’s ZK-Rollup technology increases and the ecosystem of DeFi expands.

Features Loopring (LRC)

• Provides cost-effective and high-speed ZK-Rollup technology for the development of decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
• Prioritizes self custody and trading that possess relatively low costs and high speeds.
• Delivers high throughput performance and additional scaling to allow secure DeFi applications.
• Enables efficient capital and liquidity provisioning through zero-knowledge proofs.
• Applies to high-frequency trading characteristic of DeFi users due to quick order fills with low-cost barriers.

Conclusion

To summarize, staking on Layer 2s such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync present high-yield opportunities due to their low scalability transaction costs.

Their ecosystems are well developed and thus GMX, LRC, and COTI provide good growth opportunities and rewards. Further adoption of Layer 2s makes these tokens staked further increasing passive income while providing enhanced value in the future.