List of the Top 3 Layer 2 Protocols for 1inch in 2026

Polygon is a next-generation blockchain platform redefining digital finance through speed, scalability, and interoperability. Built for real-world utility, Polygon processes over 5 billion transactions and connects 117 million unique addresses—empowering businesses, developers, and institutions to operate on an always-on financial infrastructure. Its lightning-fast network achieves ~5-second finality and 2-second block times, enabling near-instant settlement for payments, stablecoins, and tokenized assets. Designed for enterprise-grade performance, Polygon combines account abstraction, email logins, and sponsored gas to deliver user experiences that rival traditional apps—without sacrificing decentralization. The ecosystem’s zkEVM and AggLayer technologies bring cryptographic proof and modular scalability to Web3, allowing developers to scale from 5,000 to 100,000+ TPS seamlessly. Supported by POL, the native gas and staking token, Polygon secures the network while powering thousands of decentralized applications. Its stablecoin ecosystem exceeds $3 billion in supply, backed by deep liquidity and unmatched transaction velocity. From DeFi and tokenized real-world assets (RWA) to enterprise payments and infrastructure, Polygon provides the rails for money to move as fast as the internet itself. The platform’s commitment to compliance, reliability, and interoperability makes it the go-to solution for institutions entering Web3. With its proven success and forward-looking roadmap, Polygon stands as the foundation for the global, scalable, and secure economy of the future.

Ethereum's new scalability framework guarantees swift transactions and effective smart contract execution. Optimism functions as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), which is designed to generate profits while also delivering societal benefits through responsible and sustainable methodologies. This organizational model requires us to balance our shareholders' financial interests with the well-being of those affected by our decisions, adhering to a defined "public benefit charter." The primary goal of the Company is to enhance and protect fair access to public goods on the internet by developing open-source software. This charter reflects our dedication to the Ethereum community, as we work to uphold its core values by building infrastructure that supports the growth and sustainability of a public goods ecosystem. By doing so, we not only seek to advance technological progress but also to promote an inclusive atmosphere where all users can thrive. Ultimately, our efforts aim to bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility, ensuring that the benefits of technology are shared widely.

Develop smart contracts using widely adopted software frameworks to transition from Solidity into the broader landscape of software tools on Linux, marking a significant step forward. This shift enables exceptional computational scalability, facilitates access to large datasets, and guarantees low transaction fees, all while preserving the robust security features inherent to Ethereum. Whether for gaming platforms that protect player data or corporate solutions managing sensitive information, your decentralized applications can effectively safeguard user privacy. Descartes performs extensive computations off-chain by utilizing a Linux virtual machine governed entirely by a smart contract, ensuring efficiency and reliability. The results of these computations are validated and enforced on-chain by trustworthy Descartes node operators, thus maintaining the strong security guarantees offered by the underlying blockchain. By successfully addressing Ethereum’s scalability limitations, you can realize computational efficiencies that far exceed previous benchmarks, all while upholding the blockchain’s security integrity. This progression not only improves the user experience but also expands the array of possible applications for decentralized technologies, opening new avenues for innovation and collaboration. As the technology evolves, it paves the way for more sophisticated and diverse decentralized applications, further enriching the ecosystem.