Optimism
Optimism is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that uses optimistic rollups to increase transaction throughput and reduce costs while maintaining Ethereum's security. It processes transactions off-chain and posts compressed data to Ethereum, with a fraud-proof mechanism to ensure correctness. This enables faster and cheaper decentralized applications (dApps) while leveraging Ethereum's decentralized network.
Developers should learn Optimism when building or deploying Ethereum-based dApps that require high transaction volumes and low fees, such as DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, or gaming platforms. It's particularly useful for projects needing scalability without sacrificing security, as it inherits Ethereum's consensus and allows for seamless integration with existing Ethereum tooling and smart contracts.