Layer 2 Scaling in America in 2026: How Optimistic and ZK Rollups Are Carrying US Onchain Activity
Layer 2 scaling in America in 2026 runs through Base, Arbitrum, zkSync and Linea, with rollups now carrying 92% of Ethereum-related US activity and most institutional flow.
➤ Layer 2 scaling solutions, particularly Optimistic and ZK rollups, now handle the majority of Ethereum-related activity in the US, significantly reducing gas fees and enabling institutional adoption. ➤ Key factors for US developers choosing rollups include user distribution, sequencer decentralization, data availability, and regulatory posture, with Base and Arbitrum leading in US retail and institutional flow respectively. ➤ Future trends point towards rollup consolidation, shared sequencing and security, and a hybrid approach combining Optimistic execution with ZK proofs, indicating a maturing infrastructure for onchain applications.