Definition ∞ The Optimism Network is a Layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain, designed to improve transaction speed and reduce gas fees. It operates as an Optimistic Rollup, processing transactions off-chain and then submitting compressed transaction data to the Ethereum mainnet. This approach significantly increases Ethereum’s throughput while inheriting its security guarantees. It aims to make decentralized applications more accessible and cost-effective.
Context ∞ The Optimism Network is a prominent topic in news related to Ethereum scalability and the broader adoption of decentralized applications. Discussions frequently highlight its role in alleviating network congestion and enabling more efficient DeFi and NFT activities. Ongoing developments focus on enhancing its developer tooling, expanding its ecosystem of applications, and improving the efficiency of its fraud proof mechanisms to further secure the network.