An optimistic rollup is a way to help blockchains handle more transactions by moving most of the work off the main chain and sending back only a summary. It assumes off-chain transactions are valid unless someone can prove they are not, which makes processing faster and cheaper.
When lots of people use a blockchain, it can become slow and costly. Optimistic rollups help by moving most of the work off the main chain, which reduces congestion and fees. The main chain still handles final settlement, so security and decentralization are maintained while more transactions can be processed.
A rollup operator or sequencer gathers and processes transactions away from the main chain. The rollup then groups these results into one batch and sends a summary to the main chain. This summary includes compressed data so anyone can see what changed. Users still control their tokens on the rollup, and the main chain keeps enough details to settle disputes or recover the state if necessary.
Once a batch is sent to the main chain, there is a waiting period called the challenge period. During this time, anyone can review the batch and submit a fraud proof if they spot a mistake or bad action. If the fraud proof is correct, the batch is undone and the person who tried to cheat may lose their deposit. This system uses penalties and public checks to keep operators honest.
Both optimistic rollups and zk-rollups help blockchains handle more transactions, but they work differently. Optimistic rollups use fraud proofs and a challenge period to catch mistakes. Zk-rollups, on the other hand, provide cryptographic proofs that show a batch is correct before it is accepted. This means zk-rollups can settle faster, while optimistic rollups may have a delay during the challenge period.
Optimistic rollups make transactions cheaper and allow more to be processed, but there are some downsides. The challenge period can slow down withdrawals to the main chain. Security relies on third parties watching for fraud. Some rollups use a single sequencer, which can reduce decentralization and make censorship easier unless this role is shared. Economic rewards and penalties help prevent abuse, but some risks remain.
Many networks and projects use optimistic rollups today. Well-known examples include Arbitrum and Optimism. Some big platforms have also added rollup-based chains to help lower costs for users. These projects show that optimistic rollups can help popular smart contract platforms handle more activity.
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