Arbitrum (ARB)
Ethereum at full speed. Without the fees.
What is Arbitrum?
s mainnet, Arbitrum bundles them together and posts compressed proofs back to Ethereum — giving users the same security guarantees at a fraction of the cost.",
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How Arbitrum Works
Imagine Ethereum as a busy courthouse where every case takes time and costs money. Arbitrum is like a private mediation office that handles cases quickly and cheaply, but files the final verdict back at the courthouse for the official record. Transactions happen fast on Arbitrum, and if anyone disputes the result, Ethereum acts as the judge. This "optimistic rollup" approach assumes everything is valid unless challenged — which keeps things fast while preserving Ethereum's security.
Arbitrum Ecosystem
- Largest Layer 2 ecosystem by TVL with hundreds of DeFi protocols
- Arbitrum One for general-purpose applications and DeFi
- Arbitrum Nova for high-throughput, low-cost gaming and social apps
- Orbit chains — custom L3s built on Arbitrum technology
- Governance through Arbitrum DAO and delegate voting
Team & Development
Arbitrum was created by Offchain Labs, founded by Ed Felten (former White House Deputy CTO), Steven Goldfeder, and Harry Kalodner — all Princeton computer scientists. The technology emerged from years of academic research on optimistic rollups. Offchain Labs builds the core protocol, while Arbitrum DAO governs the ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ARB used for?
ARB is the governance token for Arbitrum DAO. Holders can vote on proposals that affect the protocol, including upgrades, treasury grants, and ecosystem incentives. Gas fees on Arbitrum are paid in ETH, not ARB.
How do I use Arbitrum?
Add the Arbitrum One network to MetaMask, bridge some ETH to Arbitrum, and start using apps. Many DeFi protocols like Uniswap, Aave, and GMX are already deployed on Arbitrum with the same interfaces you know.
Is Arbitrum as secure as Ethereum?
Arbitrum One is the main rollup for DeFi and general-purpose applications. Arbitrum Nova uses a Data Availability Committee for even cheaper transactions, making it ideal for gaming and social applications where cost matters more than maximum decentralization.
What is the difference between Arbitrum One and Nova?
Yes. You can sell ARB for fiat currencies or swap it for ETH, USDC, and other tokens through Swaps. Since ARB exists on both Ethereum and Arbitrum, verify which network you are sending from.
Can I sell or swap ARB?
Buy Arbitrum on Swaps
Compare Arbitrum prices from trusted providers. Buy ARB with credit card, bank transfer, Apple Pay, and 29+ payment methods. Non-custodial — crypto goes directly to your wallet.
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