The realm of blockchain and cryptocurrencies is witnessing a relentless wave of innovation. Among these advancements, Layer 2 scaling solutions have proven to be game-changers, especially for Ethereum. One such Layer 2 solution that has garnered immense attention is Arbitrum. With its capacity to facilitate scalable smart contracts, it has become a hotspot for novel crypto projects. In this article, we will dive into the top 5 crypto projects on Arbitrum in 2023 that are shaping the future of the decentralized world.

Table of Contents

Why Projects on Arbitrum?

Before we delve into the list, it's crucial to understand what makes Arbitrum an attractive platform for developers and innovators.

Scalability. Arbitrum dramatically enhances the throughput of the Ethereum network. It allows projects to run more efficiently and handle greater volumes of transactions.

Compatibility. It offers seamless compatibility with Ethereum, meaning developers can use existing tools and applications without major modifications.

Security. By inheriting Ethereum’s security model, Arbitrum ensures that the projects built on it are as secure as those on Ethereum itself.

Reduced Gas Fees. Users and developers can relish the benefits of decreased transaction costs, making it more cost-effective to deploy and interact with applications.

Top 5 Projects on Arbitrum in 2023

As we explore the world of Arbitrum, some projects have clearly risen above the rest. Whether it's through their innovative solutions, user engagement, or sheer utility, these are the names that are setting the tone for the future.

GMX

Establishing itself as the pinnacle among projects on the Arbitrum platform, GMX is a decentralized perpetual exchange deeply integrated into Arbitrum's ecosystem. It enables effortless permissionless on-chain trading for more than a dozen tokens, such as BTC, ETH, AVAX, and UNI. With its meteoric rise, GMX now ranks as the most widely used DeFi exchange on Arbit

ZyberSwap (ZYB)

Built on the Arbitrum blockchain, ZyberSwap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that features an automated market-maker (AMM) and offers low fees for swapping crypto assets. It's known for providing some of the most enticing rewards on the entire Arbitrum network for staking and yield farming, which makes it a popular choice among DeFi users. The platform is entirely dedicated to decentralization and active community participation, with all significant changes determined through governance voting.

For its token distribution, ZyberSwap has opted for a fair launch strategy to ensure equal opportunities for all users to obtain its tokens. Additionally, the platform has been rigorously audited for security and is nurtured by Solidproof. This relationship not only grants access to their expertise but also avails free audit and KYC procedures for new projects. In summary, ZyberSwap is a secure and user-centric DEX that paves the way in the rapidly expanding Arbitrum ecosystem.

VELA Exchange

A high-grade decentralized exchange on Arbitrum, Vela Exchange delivers a professional trading platform catering to numerous cryptocurrencies. The platform was created using Dexpools, a decentralized liquidity pool-based OTC trading system.

With the recent announcement of its Beta version, Vela Exchange has gained traction on Arbitrum, reaching a total transaction volume of around 5 billion USD. Impressively, the exchange has contributed to over 10% of Layer 2's on-chain activity. It showcasing the commitment and trust of the community in this perpetual exchange.

Vela provides an exchange where customers can establish trading positions on synthetic assets with leverages of up to 100x. The platform includes a USDC-backed stablecoin.

Camelot

Due to its ecosystem-centric and community-led approach to decentralized exchange (DEX) and liquidity provision, Camelot (GRAIL) stands as one of the most promising projects on Arbitrum in 2023. Focused on composability, Camelot offers a highly efficient and customizable platform with a tailored approach. Camelot, a feature-rich AMM, offers pool configurations uniquely tailored for specific trading pairs. Implementing a new liquidity approach using non-fungible staked positions, it adds an extra layer over traditional LP tokens and delivers more benefits to users and protocols.

The permissionless nature of Camelot enables projects to engage with the protocol directly, without requiring approval or interference from the team. This grants complete control over incentivizing and managing liquidity. A dual token system comprised of the native liquid GRAIL and non-transferable governance token xGRAIL contributes to a robust control over market supply flow. They promote long-term sustainability.

Radiant

Radiant Capital, an Arbitrum-based lending protocol platform, aims to evolve into a cross-chain lending platform. This will allow users to interact with various blockchains while borrowing and lending on a single platform.

On any major network, users can deposit major assets and borrow a variety of assets supported by multiple chains. The primary objective of Radiant is to consolidate the fragmented liquidity currently scattered across the top 10 alternative layers.

Currently holding the highest TVL on Arbitrum, Radiant Capital has positioned itself as the leading lending platform.

Conclusion - Projects on Arbitrum

The growth trajectory of Arbitrum is nothing short of impressive. With a growing ecosystem of projects establishing their presence on this Layer 2 solution, the future seems promising. The aforementioned projects are just the tip of the iceberg, representing a small fraction of the potential. As the realm of decentralized solutions expands, so will the innovations and opportunities on platforms like Arbitrum.

Blockchain for Creators: Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure

Miłosz Mach

07 Nov 2025

Blockchain for Creators: Secure and Sustainable Infrastructure

In today’s digital creative space, where the lines between art and technology are constantly blurring, projects like MARMALADE mark the beginning of a new era - one where creators can protect their work and maintain ownership through blockchain technology.

For Nextrope, being part of MARMALADE goes far beyond implementing features like screenshot blocking or digital watermarking. It’s about building trust infrastructure - systems that empower creators to thrive in the digital world safely and sustainably.

A new kind of blockchain challenge

Cultural and educational projects come with a completely different set of challenges than typical DeFi systems. Here, the focus isn’t on returns or complex smart contracts - it’s on people: artists, illustrators, educators.

That’s why our biggest task was to design secure yet intuitive infrastructure - lightweight, energy-efficient, and accessible for non-technical users exploring Web3 for the first time.

“Our mission wasn’t to build another financial protocol. It was to create a layer of trust for digital creators.”
— Nextrope Team

Security that stays invisible

The best security is the kind you don’t notice.
Within MARMALADE, we focused on making creators' protection seamless:

Screenshot blocking safeguards artworks viewed in browsers.
Dynamic watermarking helps identify unauthorized copies.
Blockchain registry ensures every proof of ownership remains transparent and immutable

“Creators shouldn’t have to think about encryption or private keys - our job is to make security invisible.”

Sustainability by design

MARMALADE also answers a bigger question - how to innovate responsibly.
Nextrope’s infrastructure relies on low-emission blockchain networks and modular architecture that can easily be adapted for other creative or cultural initiatives.

This means the technology built here can support not only artists but also institutions, universities, and educators seeking to integrate blockchain in meaningful ways.

Beyond technology

For Nextrope, MARMALADE is more than a project — it’s proof that blockchain can empower culture and creators, not just finance. By building tools for digital artists, we’re helping them protect their creativity and discover how technology can amplify human expression.

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Plasma blockchain. Architecture, Key Features & Why It Matters

Miłosz Mach

21 Oct 2025

Plasma blockchain. Architecture, Key Features & Why It Matters

What is Plasma?

Plasma is a Layer-1 blockchain built specifically for stablecoin infrastructure combining Bitcoin-level security with EVM compatibility and ultra-low fees for stablecoin transfers.

Why Plasma Blockchain Was Created?

Existing blockchains (Ethereum, L2s, etc.) weren’t originally designed around stablecoin payments at scale. As stablecoins grow, issues like congestion, gas cost, latency, and interoperability become constraints. Plasma addresses these by being purpose-built for stablecoin transfers, offering features not found elsewhere.

Zero-fee transfers (especially for USDT)
Custom gas tokens (separate from XPL, to reduce friction)
Trust-minimized Bitcoin bridge (to allow BTC collateral use)
Full EVM compatibility smart contracts can work with minimal modifications

Plasma’s Architecture & Core Mechanisms

EVM Compatibility + Smart Contracts

Developers familiar with Ethereum tooling (Solidity, Hardhat, etc.) can deploy contracts on Plasma with limited changes making it easy to port existing dApps or DeFi, similar to other EVM-compatible infrastructures discussed in the article „The Ultimate Web3 Backend Guide: Supercharge dApps with APIs".

Gas Model & Token Mechanism

Instead of forcing users always to hold XPL for gas, Plasma supports custom gas tokens. For stablecoin-native flows (e.g. USDT transfers), there is often zero fee usage, lowering UX friction.

Bitcoin Bridge & Collateral

Plasma supports a Bitcoin bridge that lets BTC become collateral inside smart contracts (like pBTC). This bridges the security of Bitcoin with DeFi use cases within Plasma.
This makes Plasma a “Bitcoin-secured blockchain for stablecoins".

Security & Finality

Plasma emphasizes finality and security, tuned to payment workloads. Its consensus and architecture aim for strong protection against reorgs and double spends while maintaining high throughput.
The network launched mainnet beta holding over $2B in stablecoin liquidity shortly after opening.

Plasma Blockchain vs Alternatives: What Makes It Stand Out?

Feature	Plasma (XPL)	Other L1 / L2
Stablecoin native design	✅	usually second-class
Zero fees for stablecoin transfers	✅	rare, or subsidized
BTC bridge (collateral)	✅	only some chains
EVM compatibility	✅	yes in many, but with trade-offs
High liquidity early	✅ (>$2B TVL)	many chains struggle to bootstrap

These distinctions make Plasma especially compelling for institutions, stablecoin issuers, and DeFi innovators looking for scalable, low-cost, secure payments infrastructure.

Use Cases: What You Can Build with Plasma Blockchain

Stablecoin native vaults / money markets
Payment rails & cross-border settlement
Treasury and cash management flows
Bridged BTC-backed stablecoin services
DeFi primitives (DEX, staking, yield aggregation) optimized for stablecoins

If you’re building any product reliant on stablecoin transfers or needing strong collateral backing from BTC, Plasma offers a compelling infrastructure foundation.

Get Started with Plasma Blockchain: Key Steps & Considerations

Smart contract migration: assess if existing contracts can port with minimal changes.
Gas token planning: decide whether to use USDT, separate gas tokens, or hybrid models.
Security & audit: focus on bridge logic, reentrancy, oracle risks.
Liquidity onboarding & market making: bootstrap stablecoin liquidity, incentives.
Regulation & compliance: stablecoin issuance may attract legal scrutiny.
Deploy MVP & scale: iterate fast, measure gas, slippage, UX, security.

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