Optimism Alternatives: Similar L2 Protocols Compared

Optimism carries a risk grade of C+ (36/100) and ranks #18 of 41 rated L2 protocols. Below are 40 L2 protocols ranked by safety — from safest to riskiest. 17 of these protocols score lower (safer) than Optimism, and 23 score higher (riskier).

The single safest alternative is Stacks (B, 21/100 — 15 points safer than Optimism). See the Optimism vs Stacks comparison to weigh the tradeoffs.

Current Protocol

Optimism

Risk

C+

Value

D+

TVL

$567M

Safety analysis →Investment analysis →

AlternativeRiskValueTVL

StacksSafer

C+

$86M

ArbitrumSafer

C-

$3.2B

CeloSafer

D+

$200M

AltLayerSafer

D+

—

XaiSafer

D-

$75,000

Abstract ChainSafer

B-

$22M

Astar NetworkSafer

B-

D-

$30M

EigenDASafer

B-

C-

—

KintoSafer

B-

$672,000

Lightning NetworkSafer

B-

B+

$283M

Mode NetworkSafer

B-

D-

$5M

Corn NetworkSafer

B-

$100M

MezoSafer

B-

$14M

ScrollSafer

B-

D+

$7,000

TaikoSafer

B-

C-

$20,000

BaseSafer

B-

C+

$2.8B

Hemi NetworkSafer

B-

C-

$617,000

Immutable X

C+

$470,000

Linea

C+

D+

$267M

Zora

C+

C-

—

Aztec Network

C+

D-

—

Manta Network

C+

D-

$50M

Rootstock

C+

C-

$24,000

Mantle

C+

$142M

Movement

C+

D-

$50M

Merlin Chain

C+

D-

$100M

Soneium

C+

$180,000

Zircuit

C+

D-

$4M

ZKsync Era

C+

D+

$100M

Fuel Network

C+

$45M

Ink Chain

C+

C-

$473M

Nexus Network

C+

—

Sophon

C+

$13M

Eclipse

C+

C-

$6M

Starknet

C+

$157M

Blast

C-

$51M

Unichain

$3M

BOB (Build on Bitcoin)

$180M

Katana Network

$8M

MegaETH

C-

D-

—

Is Optimism safe?Is Optimism a good investment?Optimism risk profile →