The numbers tell Arbitrum's growth story; the network processes nearly 6 million weekly transactions across more than 38 million total accounts. This adoption has brought substantial liquidity, with over $8.4 billion in bridged assets distributed across ETH ($3.1 billion), stablecoins ($3 billion), and other tokens ($2.3 billion).
But numbers don't tell the whole story. The real excitement comes from the diverse range of projects taking root on Arbitrum. From innovative DeFi protocols transforming how we trade, to ambitious gaming platforms redefining what's possible in the space, teams are building applications that were economically impractical (i.e. too expensive to operate) on Layer 1. With transactions that are both fast and cheap, developers are building on L2s to create the interactive experiences users want, without gas fees getting in the way.
In this deep dive, we’ll explore notable projects across different categories in the Arbitrum ecosystem. Whether you're a developer looking to build something cool, a crypto enthusiast keeping tabs on what's next, or just curious about how Layer 2s are changing the game, we'll walk you through why Arbitrum has become one of Web3's busiest networks.
Arbitrum improves Ethereum using a technology called optimistic rollups, making it faster and cheaper to transact while keeping security intact. There are currently two Arbitrum “production” chains: Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova, each built for different purposes.
Arbitrum One came first and is “designed for general use” as a solution for projects utilizing Ethereum-compatible smart contracts. Arbitrum One uses optimistic rollup technology, bundling multiple transactions into batches that are settled on Ethereum (L1) — to provide faster transactions at a fraction of the cost, without compromising security. This is where Arbitrum’s most major (i.e. DeFi) applications and large transactions happen.
Arbitrum Nova is positioned as Arbitrum's “high-performance” chain designed for applications requiring extreme speed and cost efficiency. It’s a go-to for any app where speed and low costs matter. Whether it’s games, social platforms, or tools that need constant user interaction, we’ve seen developers lean on Nova to handle high-frequency transactions without breaking the bank.
While Arbitrum One uses what the Arbitrum docs call “the purely trustless Rollup protocol”, Arbitrum Nova uses Arbitrum’s “mostly trustless Anytrust protocol.” AnyTrust chains manage data entirely off-chain, utilizing a data availability committee (DAC) to speed up storing, batching, and posting L2 transaction data to Ethereum.
In August 2022, Arbitrum got a major upgrade called Nitro that delivered:
Nitro made Arbitrum faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
Launched in September 2024, Stylus brings a significant technical upgrade to both Arbitrum One and Nova networks. Before Stylus, blockchain development was limited to Solidity—a specialized language known by roughly 20,000 developers worldwide. This upgrade transforms the development landscape by enabling developers to write smart contracts using the languages they're already familiar with, like:
Comparison diagram of EVM-only to MultiVM. Source: Arbitrum
Stylus adds a second virtual machine (WASM) alongside Arbitrum’s existing one (EVM).
This new WASM virtual machine:
Why this matters:
The combination of Arbitrum's networks and upgrades has created an infrastructure that offers:
These features, combined with continuous technical improvements, have helped establish Arbitrum as one of Web3's most active platforms.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and isn’t financial advice.
Today, hundreds of projects call Arbitrum home. From DeFi protocols and social platforms to games and trading applications, teams are finding unique ways to leverage the network's speed and affordability. Let’s look at some of the hot Arbitrum projects and categories.
Popular decentralized finance platforms for trading and moving assets across chains.
Jumper Exchange platform
As is always the case, do your own research before adopting or getting involved with any blockchain project.
One tool that can help with research is Dispatch (made by us): one of the easiest ways to track on-chain activity for projects on Arbitrum One and other leading EVM networks, and no code required.
Check out our step-by-step guide to setting up DeFi monitoring, or watch our quick tutorial video to see it in action.
Galxe quest platform
The ecosystem includes platforms for connection and engagement. Many of these projects are multi-chain.
The Web3 gaming landscape continues to expand; here are some popular projects on Arbitrum.
Smart contract activity from LiFi Diamond on Arbitrum
JustBet gambling platform
These platforms let you play casino games and place bets using crypto.
Arbitrum supports major Web3 wallets:
The Arbitrum ecosystem continues to expand and improve. With updates like Stylus, more developers can bring their skills to blockchain, while improvements in cross-chain technology make it easier to move assets between networks. The vision is clear: bringing blockchain to everyone, not just the pros.
As the ecosystem grows, keeping track of all these moving pieces becomes increasingly important. Dispatch can help monitor these network upgrades, project launches, and key metrics, giving builders and communities the insights they need to continue growing.
With each new development, Arbitrum shows how blockchain technology can become more accessible, efficient, and practical. As the next wave of builders pushes these boundaries even further, we're excited to see what they'll create next.