USDC on Optimism
Everything you need to know about USDC on Optimism: sub-penny fees, Superchain ecosystem, DeFi protocols, and how to get started.
< $0.01
~2 sec
ETH
September 2023 (native USDC)
0x0b2C639c533813f4Aa9D7837CAf62653d097Ff85
About USDC on Optimism
Optimism is an Ethereum Layer 2 network and the foundation of the Superchain, a vision for a network of interconnected L2s sharing security and interoperability. Base (built by Coinbase) runs on the same OP Stack technology, making Optimism and Base sibling chains.
USDC on Optimism is native, issued directly by Circle since September 2023. Fees are very low (under a penny for most transactions) and confirmations are fast. The network has a mature DeFi ecosystem with Aave, Uniswap, Velodrome (the dominant DEX on Optimism), Synthetix, and others.
Optimism's governance is unique. The Optimism Collective operates with a bicameral system: the Token House (OP token holders who vote on protocol upgrades) and the Citizens' House (which governs retroactive public goods funding). Optimism has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to builders and public goods through its RetroPGF program, making it one of the most community-oriented L2s.
For USDC users, Optimism is a strong choice if you're already interacting with its ecosystem or want access to protocols like Synthetix and Velodrome that are primarily on Optimism. It's also a good option if you care about the Superchain vision, since moving between Optimism and Base (and future OP Stack chains) will become increasingly seamless.
The OP token is used for governance. Gas fees are paid in ETH. Like Arbitrum, Optimism is an optimistic rollup that inherits Ethereum's security.
Ecosystem
Velodrome is the dominant DEX on Optimism, similar to Aerodrome on Base (they share the same codebase). Aave and Uniswap have deployments on Optimism. Synthetix, one of the oldest DeFi protocols, is headquartered on Optimism and powers synthetic assets and perpetual trading through protocols like Kwenta and Polynomial. The OP Stack ecosystem is expanding, with Base, Zora, and others building on the same technology. Optimism's RetroPGF program funds public goods builders, creating a unique incentive structure.
Getting started
Add the Optimism network to MetaMask or use a wallet with native support (Coinbase Wallet, Rainbow, Rabby). You need ETH on Optimism for gas fees. Bridge ETH using the official Optimism bridge, or withdraw directly from exchanges. For USDC, buy on an exchange and withdraw to Optimism, or bridge using Circle's CCTP. Coinbase supports free transfers to Optimism.