Arbitrum OneOverview
Arbitrum One moves Ethereum-style app activity away from Ethereum's main network for lower-cost, higher-throughput transactions, while Ethereum still settles the final result.
Compare Arbitrum One with Ethereum and other rollups. Separate execution, data publication, settlement, and withdrawal time. Treat ETH gas and ARB governance as different fields.
What is Arbitrum One used for?
Arbitrum One is for Ethereum-compatible applications that want to move execution off mainnet without moving final settlement away from Ethereum.
The problem. Running every application transaction directly on Ethereum competes for limited mainnet blockspace and carries its associated cost.
How Arbitrum One responds. Nitro sequences and executes transactions in the rollup, then batches transaction data and state assertions to Ethereum. Its dispute system lets Ethereum arbitrate a challenged assertion.
What remains dependent. Final settlement, data-posting costs, and the withdrawal path still depend on Ethereum rather than on an independent base layer.
Use cases
- Using swaps, lending, and other Ethereum-style apps with an Ethereum-compatible wallet.
- Moving routine app activity off Ethereum mainnet while retaining Ethereum settlement.
- Using applications whose required assets and liquidity are already on Arbitrum One.
Who founded and maintains Arbitrum One?
Arbitrum was developed by Offchain Labs, with Arbitrum One launching as its public Ethereum-connected network in 2021. The Arbitrum Foundation supports the network's governance system.
Protocol company
Offchain Labs
Founded by Ed Felten, Steven Goldfeder, and Harry Kalodner; it developed the Arbitrum software stack.
Foundation
Arbitrum Foundation
Supports the Arbitrum DAO and ecosystem governance around the Arbitrum network.
What do ETH and ARB do on Arbitrum One?
Arbitrum One uses ETH as its native gas token. ARB is a separate governance token, not the token that pays everyday network fees.
| Token | Role | Reader consequence |
|---|---|---|
| ETH | Transaction fees | A wallet needs ETH for ordinary transfers, swaps, and app actions. |
| ARB | Governance | ARB holders can vote in Arbitrum DAO governance; ARB is not the gas token. |
Sources: Arbitrum Nitro gas and fees; Arbitrum governance overview.
12-month ARB price history
The chart shows the market price of ARB over the last 12 months. It does not show network usage, project revenue, or a future return.
Recent network activity
How does Arbitrum One work?
Arbitrum One is an Ethereum-connected Layer 2 network. It runs Nitro, the software that processes its transactions away from Ethereum.
Arbitrum One is a Layer 2: it executes transactions away from Ethereum, then sends compressed transaction data and result claims to Ethereum for settlement and data availability.
Arbitrum One is an optimistic rollup: it groups transactions, runs them away from Ethereum, and posts compressed data plus a result claim to Ethereum. A validator can challenge a bad claim, so Ethereum remains the final arbiter.
Where an Arbitrum One transaction executes and settles
An Arbitrum One action executes on the rollup, while its data, result claims, disputes, and final settlement connect back to Ethereum.
- Sequence on Arbitrum OneA sequencer orders the user's action.
- Execute on Arbitrum OneNitro applies the action to Arbitrum One's state.
- Publish to EthereumCompressed transaction data and a result claim are posted to Ethereum.
- Challenge and settleA disputed claim can be challenged, and Ethereum remains the final settlement layer.
Sources: Arbitrum platform and chain overview; Arbitrum Nitro technical overview.
Apps, tools, and built-in features on Arbitrum One
Arbitrum One runs Ethereum-style apps, so an app written for Ethereum will probably work there too.
- Tools and language: Solidity or Vyper with Ethereum tools; Arbitrum Stylus also supports Rust and other WebAssembly languages.
- Trade-off: it resembles Ethereum and Optimism for app compatibility, but deposits, withdrawals, and final settlement still depend on Ethereum.
What are Arbitrum One's trade-offs?
Arbitrum One keeps Ethereum-style apps and settlement while moving everyday app activity to a separate rollup.
- Transaction experience: Swaps, lending actions, and token transfers run on Arbitrum One instead of Ethereum mainnet, but their cost still reflects the rollup's connection to Ethereum data.
- Compatibility: Solidity, Ethereum wallets, and common EVM tools carry over, making Arbitrum One closer to Ethereum and Optimism than to non-EVM chains.
- Security and control: Ethereum settles the rollup, while sequencing and the withdrawal path add their own operational assumptions.
Common questions about Arbitrum One
Are ETH or ARB good investments?
Arbitrum One uses ETH as its native gas token. ARB is a separate governance token, not the token that pays everyday network fees. This profile does not contain current comparable price, liquidity, supply, exchange-access, governance-concentration, or regulatory evidence, so it cannot determine whether either token is a good investment.
What should I verify before comparing Arbitrum One?
Verify the total fee for the app action, how long moving funds back to Ethereum takes, who orders transactions first, and the Ethereum cost included in the price. Use the same transaction type, asset route, confirmation target, and observation window when comparing Arbitrum One with another network.
Can I use an Ethereum-compatible wallet with Arbitrum One?
Arbitrum One is EVM-compatible, so Ethereum-compatible wallets such as MetaMask or Rabby can connect to it. Confirm that the wallet names Arbitrum One and shows the intended account, token, and app before signing.
How should I compare bridges to Arbitrum One?
No bridge is best for every route. Check that the destination is Arbitrum One, then compare the starting network, asset support, quoted fee, expected time, and withdrawal assumptions in the current route.
Compare Arbitrum One with related networks
These comparisons share a payment, asset, application, or network-design trait. The important-difference column names the boundary that can change the choice.
Official Arbitrum One technical sources
Start with the primary documentation, then check live data separately when the decision depends on it.
Overview
Architecture and validation
Apps and compatibility
Native token and market context
People and maintenance
Practical questions
Reviewed 15 September 2026; claims reflect the linked sources at review time.