Should you trade on Ethereum, Arbitrum, or Polygon? Understanding blockchain networks is essential for DeFi—the right choice can save you 90% on fees.
Layer 1 Networks (Main Chains)
Ethereum
- Native Token: ETH
- Typical Gas: $5 – $50 per swap
- Best For: Large trades ($1000+), security-critical operations
Solana
- Native Token: SOL
- Typical Gas: $0.001 – $0.01
- Best For: Frequent small trades, gaming, NFTs
Layer 2 Networks (Scaling Solutions)
Layer 2 (L2) networks are built on top of Layer 1s. They process transactions faster and cheaper while inheriting L1’s security.
- Arbitrum: $0.10 – $0.50 per swap, best all-around choice
- Polygon: $0.01 – $0.05 per swap, lowest fees
- Base: $0.05 – $0.20 per swap, Coinbase ecosystem
- Optimism: $0.10 – $0.30 per swap, growing ecosystem
Setting Up New Networks
The easiest method: Go to chainlist.org, connect your wallet, search for the network, and click “Add to MetaMask”.
Key Takeaways
- L2 networks can save 90%+ on gas fees vs. Ethereum mainnet
- Arbitrum is the best all-around choice for most DeFi trading
- Use chainlist.org to safely add networks to MetaMask
- The same wallet address works across EVM-compatible networks