ARB vs OP: Arbitrum vs Optimism — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Arbitrum (ARB) and Optimism (OP) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Governance token of the Arbitrum DAO, which controls the Arbitrum One and Nova Ethereum L2 rollups. Airdropped in March 2023 with an initial 10 billion supply. ARB holders vote on treasury spending, protocol upgrades, and the Security Council. Governance token of the Optimism Collective, which directs the OP Mainnet rollup and the broader Superchain of OP Stack chains. Governed through a bicameral Token House and Citizens' House, with OP funding retroactive public goods grants. As of the last data review, ARB ranks #26 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$3.4B) and OP ranks #27 (≈$3.2B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Arbitrum (ARB) | Optimism (OP) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #26 | #27 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $3.4B | $3.2B |
| Category | Layer 2 | Layer 2 |
| Chain(s) | Arbitrum | OP Mainnet |
| Token standard | ERC-20 | ERC-20 |
| Launched | March 2023 | May 2022 |
| Issuer | Offchain Labs | Op Labs |
| Issuer type | DAO-governed | DAO-governed |
| Total supply | 10,000,000,000 | 4,300,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 4,500,000,000 | 1,500,000,000 |
| Max supply | 10,000,000,000 | 4,300,000,000 |
Arbitrum (ARB) in brief
- Governance token of the Arbitrum DAO, which controls the Arbitrum One and Nova Ethereum L2 rollups. Airdropped in March 2023 with an initial 10 billion supply. ARB holders vote on treasury spending, protocol upgrades, and the Security Council.
- Launched March 2023.
- ERC-20 token; trades on Arbitrum.
- Max supply: 10,000,000,000.
- Issuer: Offchain Labs.
Full profile: Arbitrum (ARB) token page.
Optimism (OP) in brief
- Governance token of the Optimism Collective, which directs the OP Mainnet rollup and the broader Superchain of OP Stack chains. Governed through a bicameral Token House and Citizens' House, with OP funding retroactive public goods grants.
- Launched May 2022.
- ERC-20 token; trades on OP Mainnet.
- Max supply: 4,300,000,000.
- Issuer: Op Labs.
Full profile: Optimism (OP) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- ARB is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #26 (≈$3.4B) versus rank #27 (≈$3.2B) for OP.
- OP is the older asset — launched in 2022, 1 year before ARB (2023).
- They live on different chains — ARB: Arbitrum; OP: OP Mainnet.
- Both are classified as Layer 2 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, ARB or OP?
Arbitrum (ARB) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $3.4B (rank #26) versus $3.2B (rank #27) for OP, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Arbitrum and Optimism launch?
Arbitrum launched in March 2023; Optimism launched in May 2022.
Are ARB and OP on the same chain?
No. ARB is on Arbitrum, while OP is on OP Mainnet.
Related comparisons
- ARB vs MATIC
- MATIC vs OP
- Arbitrum (ARB) token profile
- Optimism (OP) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the ARB and OP token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.