In this article, I will cover the Top Ethereum Sidechains, which addres Ethereum scalability issues.
These sidechains allow transactions to be processed more quickly and inexpensively while preserving the security of Ethereum.
From Polygon and Arbiturm to StarkNet and Mantle, every sidechain has distinct features that improves the performance and efficiency of decentralized applications (dApps) on Ethereum.
Key point & Top Ethereum Sidechains List
| Project | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Polygon | Popular L2 scaling solution with PoS and zkEVM chains; low fees, fast transactions. |
| Arbitrum | Optimistic Rollup; low-cost, high-throughput Ethereum scaling. |
| Optimism | Optimistic Rollup; focuses on simplicity and low gas fees. |
| Immutable X | L2 for NFTs; zero gas fees, instant trades, carbon-neutral. |
| Loopring | zk-Rollup protocol; fast, low-cost, high-security DEX. |
| StarkNet | zk-Rollup; scalable dApps with low fees and privacy features. |
| xDai Chain | EVM-compatible; stable payments with xDai stablecoin. |
| Metis | Optimistic Rollup; focuses on dApps, DAOs, and DeFi scaling. |
| Base | Coinbase-backed L2; low-cost, secure, EVM-compatible. |
| Mantle | Modular L2; uses optimistic rollups and separate data availability layer for efficiency. |
1.Polygon
Polygon is well known as an Ethereum sidechain because of its scalability, low transaction fees, and established ecosystem.
Its multi-chain infrastructure allows Polygon to leverage Ethereum’s security while providing cheaper and faster transactions.
The zkEVM and PoS chains of Polygon support improved performance for dApps and DeFi projects. Because of its interoperability and easy-to-use developer tools, Polygon stands out as the go-to scaling solution for Ethereum which has resulted in significant adoption in the crypto space.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing Plasma Chains and Proof-of-Stake (PoS). |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Extremely low fees compared to Ethereum mainnet. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum Layer 1 and Polygon’s PoS validators. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications, gaming, and DeFi projects. |
2.Arbitrum
Arbitrum is an Ethereum sidechain that is among the most efficient in scaling transactions using Optimistic Rollups.
It lowers the cost of transactions significantly without compromising on Ethereum security. The unique fraud-proof system of Arbitrum ensures validation is done trustlessly, making it reliable.
Arbitrum can effortlessly boost adoption since it enables seamless migration of existing Ethereum dApps. It’s the best sidechain for developers to deploy their DeFi and Web3 projects due to the low fees as well as fast finality and support for all Ethereum tools.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing Optimistic Rollups. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum Layer 1 and Optimistic Rollup technology. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high efficiency. |
3.Optimism
Optimism is one of the most well-known Ethereum sidechains because it is both user-friendly and affordable.
By utilizing Optimistic Rollups, it decreases gas costs while increasing the speed of transactions, all while using Ethereum’s security. Its retroactive public goods funding model reinvests the profits earned by the network into the ecosystem, supporting sustainability.
It is a strong choice for developers looking for cost-effective Ethereum alternatives because it has dApp usability and EVM compatibility.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing Optimistic Rollups. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum Layer 1 and Optimistic Rollup technology. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high efficiency. |
4.Immutable X
Immutable X is a leading sidechain of Ethereum focused on NFTs with gasless minting and trading. Its zk-Rollup technology allows instant and cheaper transactions to be performed while still safeguarding the Ethereum platform.
The carbon neutral approach enables eco-friendly NFT trading making Immutable X appealing to sustainability conscious projects.
The API integration concern is also addressed allowing developers to effortlessly create NFTs, making it the most efficient, scalable and environmentally friendly solution for NFT games and markets.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing ZK-Rollups (Zero-Knowledge Rollups). |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Zero gas fees for minting and trading NFTs. |
| Transaction Speed | Instant transactions with high scalability. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Focused on NFTs and ERC-20 tokens. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum Layer 1 and ZK-Rollup technology. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with API abstraction for seamless integration. |
| Use Case | Ideal for NFT marketplaces, gaming, and metaverse applications. |
5.Loopring
Loopring is one of the leading Ethereum sidechains, boasting its zk-Rollup technology which allows fast and cheap transactions without sacrificing Ethereum security.
Its unique emphasis on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) means users can trade assets at very low costs and without custodial risks.
Its high throughput and efficient gas usage are very favorable for DeFi projects. Its unique automated market maker (AMM) design makes trading simple, secure, and scalable for everyone.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing ZK-Rollups (Zero-Knowledge Rollups). |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Extremely low fees due to efficient ZK-Rollup technology. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Enhanced security through ZK-Rollup technology and Ethereum Layer 1. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized exchanges and applications with low fees. |
6.StarkNet
StarkNet is an Ethereum sidechain distinguished by the use of zk-STARK technology, which provides superior scalability and privacy.
It executes thousands of transactions off-chain, saving money while ensuring security provided by Ethereum. Unmatched scalability and privacy is provided by echoing StarkNet’s unique validity proofs that enables fast and trustless verification.
StarkNet’s ease of use with Cairo, its native programming language, facilitates powerful dApp development, making it an ideal candidate for projects that need high performance and privacy on Ethereum.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing ZK-Rollups (Zero-Knowledge Rollups). |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with the ability to process thousands of transactions per second. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) for seamless dApp migration. |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Enhanced security through ZK-STARK technology and Ethereum Layer 1. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools like Cairo for optimized smart contract development. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high efficiency. |
7.xDai Chain
xDai Chain is a leading Ethereum sidechain and the first to provide stable, low-cost transactions powered by the xDai stablecoin.
It leverages a unique dual-token model, utilizing xDai for payments and STAKE for security, which allows for fast and affordable transfers.
With five second block times and effectively gasless transactions, the chain is great for payments and dApps. Because xDai is an Ethereum Token, developers can migrate to xDai and project achieve lower cost and greater speed with greater ease.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Ethereum sidechain designed for fast and low-cost transactions. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Extremely low fees, paid in xDai stablecoin. |
| Transaction Speed | Fast block times, typically 5 seconds per block. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) for seamless dApp migration. |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and xDai stablecoin. |
| Security | Uses a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism for enhanced security. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for easy dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for microtransactions, stable payments, and decentralized applications. |
8.Metis
Metis is an Ethereum sidechain famous for having a scalable and developer friendly Optimistic Rollup framework.
Along with it, its innovative decentralized autonomous company (DAC) model allows users to set up and govern on-chain companies in a hassle-free manner. With low fees per transaction, high speed processing, and EVM compatibility, dApp migration is made easy.
The sidechain’s blockchain operations simplification focus makes it an ideal candidate for projects in DeFi, DAOs, and NFTs needing scalability and cost efficiency.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing Optimistic Rollups. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum’s Layer 1 and Metis’s infrastructure. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high efficiency. |
9.Base
Base is a leading Ethereum sidechain supported by Coinbase that offers secure and scalable transactions at a low cost.
Its main strength is its integration into the Coinbase ecosystem, which offers easy fiat on-ramping and greater access.
Base is built using the Optimistic Rollup technology, which allows for quick, low fee transactions while inheriting the security of Ethereum. With its well-developed infrastructure and direct support from Coinbase, Base is ideal for DeFi and Web3 projects that seek mass adoption.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain built by Coinbase, utilizing Optimistic Rollups. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | High throughput with fast transaction finality. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Fully compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | Secured by Ethereum’s Layer 1 and Coinbase’s infrastructure. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for seamless dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high efficiency. |
10.Mantle
Mantle is a leading sidechain of Ethereum, renowned for its modular design that improves scalability and efficiency.
Its novel architecture decouples execution from data availability and employs EigenLayer for off-chain data verification. This maintains security while lowering costs.
Mantle’s compatibility with EVM allows effortless deployment of dApps, and its low gas prices attracts more DeFi initiatives. With advanced data handling, high throughput, and cost-efficiency, Mantle presents a powerful solution for a wide range of scalable Ethereum applications.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Layer 2 Ethereum sidechain utilizing Optimistic Rollups. |
| KYC Requirements | Minimal KYC required for basic transactions. |
| Transaction Fees | Up to 80% lower than Ethereum mainnet fees. |
| Transaction Speed | Processes up to 500 transactions per second. |
| Cross-Chain Support | Compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) for seamless dApp migration. |
| Supported Assets | Supports ERC-20 tokens and other Ethereum-based assets. |
| Security | High security with modular blockchain architecture and EigenLayer integration. |
| User Interface | Developer-friendly with tools for easy dApp deployment. |
| Use Case | Ideal for scaling decentralized applications with low fees and high throughput. |
Conclusion
In summary, the leading Ethereum sidechains – Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Immutable X, Loopring, StarkNet, xDai Chain, Metis, Base and Mantle – all have different approaches to improving Ethereum’s scalability.
Be it with zk-Rollups, Optimistic Rollups or even modular architectures, these sidechains guarantee unparalleled speed, lower costs, and complete safety during transactions while preserving the security of Ethereum.
As the Ethereum ecosystem progresses, these sidechains are essential for facilitating mass adoption and empowering the next wave of decentralized applications.
