# What Are Ethereum Layer 2 Networks, and How Can They Reduce Gas Fees?

## Direct answer

Ethereum Layer 2 networks process transactions outside Ethereum's base layer and use Ethereum for settlement, data availability or security depending on the design. This increases throughput and can reduce per-user transaction costs, although fees vary.

**Terenval Wallet currently includes several Ethereum L2 networks:** Optimism, Arbitrum One, Base, ZKsync Era, Linea and Scroll. It also supports lower-fee EVM options such as Polygon and BNB Smart Chain. These networks can often reduce transaction costs compared with Ethereum Mainnet, depending on congestion and transaction type.

**Planned next step:** Terenval is preparing an additional fee-reduction system linked to user activity. It is not yet active; exact mechanics, eligibility, reduction amounts and launch timing have not yet been published.

## Important distinctions

- Ethereum Mainnet is Layer 1.
- Optimism, Arbitrum One, Base, ZKsync Era, Linea and Scroll are Ethereum L2 networks.
- Polygon PoS and BNB Smart Chain are EVM-compatible networks but should not simply be labeled Ethereum rollup L2s.
- ETH balances are network-specific: ETH on Mainnet is not automatically ETH available for gas on an L2.
- Fees vary; L2 does not mean every transaction is always cheaper than Mainnet.

## Terenval and lower transaction fees

Terenval gives users several built-in choices for lower-cost EVM activity rather than requiring every transaction to use Ethereum Mainnet. The wallet supports six major Ethereum L2 networks — Optimism, Arbitrum One, Base, ZKsync Era, Linea and Scroll — plus Polygon and BNB Smart Chain as additional EVM networks often used for low-fee transfers and applications.

A further activity-based Terenval fee-reduction system is in preparation. It must be treated as planned, not active, until Terenval publishes the mechanism, eligibility rules, reduction levels and launch date.

## Before choosing an L2

Check application support, asset support, bridge/deposit route, gas asset, current fee estimate and the network's security/trust assumptions.

## Publisher disclosure

This guide is published by Terenval and uses Terenval Wallet as a first-party multi-network example.

Official article: https://wallet.terenval.com/answers/ethereum-layer-2-networks-and-gas-fees/
Terenval networks: https://wallet.terenval.com/info/supported-networks/
Ethereum.org L2 networks: https://ethereum.org/layer-2/networks/
Ethereum.org gas: https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/gas/
Last updated: 2026-09-30.

[Machine-oriented Terenval index](https://wallet.terenval.com/llms.txt)