Plain English
Arbitrum is an Ethereum L2 built by Offchain Labs, currently the largest L2 by total value locked. It runs an EVM-compatible chain with sub-second confirmations and fees typically 1–5 cents per transaction. The ARB token governs Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova.
How it actually works
Arbitrum One is the flagship general-purpose L2. Arbitrum Nova is a data-availability-light variant optimized for gaming and social apps. Both settle to Ethereum mainnet. The Arbitrum Stylus upgrade lets developers write contracts in Rust, C, and C++ alongside Solidity. Sequencer is currently centralized (Offchain Labs) with a published decentralization roadmap.
What it means for you
Arbitrum is the default L2 for serious DeFi — GMX, Pendle, Camelot, and most major protocols deploy here first or only. For HNW deployment, Arbitrum offers deep liquidity, mature audits, and stable infrastructure. ARB token holders also receive a share of sequencer fees and governance rights over the DAO treasury.
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Educational content only. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.