Best Free Layer 2 Protocols of 2024

Meter is a high-performance infrastructure that allows smart contract to scale and travel seamlessly across heterogeneous blockchain networks. Meter is a Layer 1 or Layer 2 blockchain protocol. The Meter system consists two tokens: MTRG (the governance token; eMTRG is an ERC20 version) and MTR (the low-volatility currency to token). Financial assets should be able to flow freely between blockchains. Meter's HotStuff-based consensus permits 1000s of validator nosdes, making it the most decentralized Layer 2 Ethereum. Meter processes thousands upon thousands of transactions per second, and transactions are confirmed almost immediately. Meter Passport allows assets, smart contracts and smart contracts to travel and communicate across heterogeneous Blockchains for the best price and liquidity. Meter is an Ethereum compatible with unique enhancements. Meter is a Layer 2 DEX that is front-running/MEV resistant and fast.

Loopring is an open protocol that allows you to build scalable, non-custodial Ethereum exchanges. It leverages zero-knowledge proofs, zkRollup, to allow high-performance trading (high throughput and low settlement cost), without compromising Ethereum-level security guarantees. Throughout the trade lifecycle, users always have 100% control over their assets. Loopring allows you to trade on it. Loopring is an open-sourced and audited non-custodial exchange protocol. This means that no one in the Loopring ecosystem has to trust anyone else. With 100% Ethereum-level security guarantees, cryptoassets can be managed by users. Loopring is a highly scalable, decentralized exchange that batch-processes thousands of requests off-chain. This allows for verifiable correct execution via ZKPs. The performance of the underlying blockchains are no longer the bottleneck. Loopring is able to perform most operations, including order matching and trade settlement, using the Ethereum blockchain.

COMBO is a leader in scaling solutions for Web3 games. COMBO builds an open-source, decentralized protocol for games that is accessible to all by leveraging the top game engine in the world. It aims at maximising the potential of Web3-based games by connecting developers with the ecosystem in a secure, efficient, and affordable way. COMBO has formed partnerships with the leading Web3 infrastructure projects in order to provide comprehensive development tools and integrated game engines. These advanced tools will help game developers easily enter the Web3 world and simplify and speed up their game development processes. By using optimistic rollup we can achieve 5,000 TPS and keep the gas price as low as 0.000000008 Gwei. COMBO has established full-fledged partnership with leading Web3 Infrastructure projects to provide comprehensive toolchains for development and built-in games engines.

Open source community dedicated towards scaling Bitcoin, particularly its proof-of work security, in order to meet global needs, and emerging use cases while staying as close to Bitcoin's original ideas as possible. Syscoin has evolved over ten years on the mainnet and the foresight in its design gives it an advantage. It provides a comprehensive network for projects that aim to achieve Bitcoin L2. Syscoin, a mainnet Bitcoin L2, provides a data-availability protocol that scales. This makes EVM and AltVM rollsups possible on Bitcoin. Syscoin, which is merge-mined using a majority of Bitcoin hash rate to anchor rollups with Bitcoin's proof-ofwork, works with the existing sequencer architectures for rollups. Syscoin gives Bitcoin a scalable data layer that is required for rollups and other EVM or AltVM to tap into Bitcoin’s network in a secure and scalable manner.

Polkadot, a blockchain network, is being built to enable Web3.0. This will allow users to control their data and ensure that markets benefit from network efficiency. Gavin Wood, a former co-founder and CTO at Ethereum, founded Polkadot in 2016. Polkadot's technology solves the major problems that have hindered blockchain adoption over the past few years. Parity Technologies created Polkadot's Substrate software development toolkit that allows blockchain developers to create their own custom, fit for use blockchains. Polkadot allows multiple blockchains to communicate with each other, allows for easy upgrades, and introduces "shared Security", a plug and play network security model that allows developers focus on the technology instead of spending time and resources recruiting operators to run a new Blockchain.

Base is an Ethereum L2 that is low-cost, secure, and developer-friendly. It was created to bring the next billion people to the web3. Base has the security and scalability that you need to power your apps. It leverages Ethereum's underlying security and allows you to confidently access Base from Coinbase, Ethereum L1, or other interoperable chains. The EVM environment is available at a fraction the price. Get early access to Ethereum features such as Account Abstraction (ERC4337), simple APIs for gasless transactions and smart contract wallets. Base is built on Optimism’s open-source OP Stack. Base allows decentralized apps to easily leverage Coinbase's products distribution and products. Easy fiat onramps and seamless Coinbase integrations are all possible.