Home / Crypto / Tokens / Layer 2 and scaling

Layer 2 and scaling: 44 Compared and Scored (2026)

Chains that execute transactions and settle back to a base layer. Ranked by a score out of 100 covering track record, tokenomics, transparency, decentralisation, adoption and liquidity. Comparing assets that do the same job is the only comparison that means anything, which is what this page is for.

MSP Score /100:85+ Excellent70 to 84 Very good55 to 69 Fair<55 Caution

How the token score works: each is rated out of 100 across track record (20), tokenomics (20), transparency (15), decentralisation (15), adoption (15), liquidity (15). Higher is better. These are the same six questions the Academy research process teaches. Every score is broken down on the token's own page.

#1

Gnosis (GNO)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2017 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainGnosis Chain
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
70
Grade B
#2

Stacks (STX)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2021 · Small cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainBitcoin
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
#3

Polygon (POL)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2019 · Small cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainPolygon
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
#4

Loopring (LRC)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2017 · Micro cap
~ Mixed record✓ Captures revenueCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainEthereum
Value captureFee share
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
67
Grade C
#5

Raiden Network (RDN)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2017 · Micro cap
~ Mixed record✓ Captures revenueCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainEthereum
Value captureFee share
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
67
Grade C
#6

Arbitrum (ARB)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2023 · Mid cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supply
ChainArbitrum
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
#7

Celo (CELO)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2020 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainCelo
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
64
Grade C
#8

SKALE (SKL)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2020 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainSKALE
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
64
Grade C
#9

Mantle (MNT)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2023 · Small cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainMantle
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
#10

Lisk (LSK)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2016 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainLisk
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
62
Grade C
#11

Optimism (OP)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2022 · Small cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supply
ChainOP Mainnet
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
#12

Rootstock (RBTC)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2018 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureVesting complete
ChainRootstock
Value captureNone
SupplyElastic
ControlMultisig
59
Grade C
#13

Metis (METIS)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2021 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainMetis
Value captureStaking only
SupplyCapped
ControlDAO governed
#14

Fuse (FUSE)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2019 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainFuse
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
58
Grade C
#15

Liquid Network (L-BTC)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2018 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureVesting complete
ChainLiquid
Value captureNone
SupplyElastic
ControlMultisig
56
Grade C
#16

Moonriver (MOVR)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2021 · Micro cap
~ Mixed record✓ Captures revenueHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainKusama
Value captureBuyback burn
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
56
Grade C
#17

Boba Network (BOBA)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2021 · Micro cap
~ Mixed recordNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete
ChainBoba
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
55
Grade C
#18

Moonbeam (GLMR)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2022 · Micro cap
⚠ Caution✓ Captures revenueHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainPolkadot parachain
Value captureBuyback burn
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
54
Grade D
#19

Evmos (EVMOS)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2022 · Micro cap
⚠ Caution✓ Captures revenueHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainEvmos
Value captureBuyback burn
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
54
Grade D
#20

Astar (ASTR)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2022 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureHigh issuanceVesting complete
ChainPolkadot and Ethereum
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
53
Grade D
#21

Taproot Assets (TAPROOT)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2023 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureVesting complete
ChainBitcoin
Value captureNone
SupplyElastic
ControlImmutable
52
Grade D
#22

Aurora (AURORA)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2021 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyVesting complete1 incident
ChainNEAR
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
48
Grade D
#23

Fraxtal (FXTL)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ Caution✓ Captures revenueHigh issuance
ChainFraxtal
Value captureFee share
SupplyHigh issuance
ControlDAO governed
47
Grade D
#24

Kinto (K)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ Caution✓ Captures revenueCapped supply1 incident
ChainKinto
Value captureFee share
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
45
Grade D
#25

Starknet (STRK)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainStarknet
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
#26

Corn (CORN)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainCorn
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
44
Grade D
#27

Linea (LINEA)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ Caution✓ Captures revenueCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainLinea
Value captureBuyback burn
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
43
Grade D
#28

Sonic SVM (SONIC)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainSolana
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
42
Grade D
#29

BOB (BOB)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainBOB
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
42
Grade D
#30

Bitlayer (BTR)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainBitlayer
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
42
Grade D
#31

Sophon (SOPH)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainSophon
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
42
Grade D
#32

Hemi (HEMI)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainHemi
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
42
Grade D
#33

Taiko (TAIKO)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainTaiko
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
41
Grade D
#34

Mode (MODE)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainMode
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlDAO governed
41
Grade D
#35

Merlin Chain (MERL)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainMerlin
Value captureStaking only
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
41
Grade D
#36

ZKsync (ZK)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainZKsync Era
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
#37

Scroll (SCR)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainScroll
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
40
Grade D
#38

Manta Network (MANTA)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainManta
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
38
Grade D
#39

Zircuit (ZRC)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainZircuit
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
38
Grade D
#40

Ink (INK)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainInk
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
38
Grade D
#41

Abstract (ABS)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainAbstract
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
38
Grade D
#42

Blast (BLAST)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainBlast
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
#43

Eclipse (ES)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2025 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks
ChainEclipse
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
36
Grade D
#44

Movement (MOVE)

Layer 2 and scaling · Launched 2024 · Micro cap
⚠ CautionNo revenue captureCapped supplyHeavy unlocks1 incident
ChainMovement
Value captureNone
SupplyHard capped
ControlTeam controlled
35
Grade D

Other sectors

Layer 1 (94)Stablecoins (53)DeFi (145)Staking and restaking (47)Infrastructure (65)AI and compute (50)DePIN (33)Real world assets (47)Gaming and metaverse (61)Memecoins (57)Privacy (17)Exchange tokens (14)NFT and culture (24)Bridges and interop (28)Governance and DAO (8)Failed and defunct (34)

There are no prices or market caps here, deliberately. Those numbers are stale within hours of being written, and a directory full of stale numbers is worse than one without them. What is recorded instead is structural and durable: what the thing actually does, how its supply behaves, who can change it, whether the token captures any revenue, and what has happened to it. For live prices use an exchange or a data aggregator.

RISK WARNING Crypto assets are highly volatile and largely unregulated. You can lose everything you put in. Nothing on this page is financial, investment or tax advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Do your own research and never commit money you cannot afford to lose.