Scalability and Stability of Ethereum Layer-2 Networks: A Comparative Analysis of Scroll, Linea, and Base Rollups

Abstract

The article presents an empirical comparison of three contemporary Layer-2 scaling solutions for the Ethereum blockchain: Scroll, Linea, and Base, representing zk-rollup and optimistic rollup architectures. The study aims to evaluate the transaction processing speed and stability of selected Layer-2 networks using real-time data collected from blockchain explorers (Blockscout, Lineascan, Basescan). The dataset comprises 45,000 transactions processed in October 2025 and aggregated at one-second resolution (1 Hz). Statistical analyses include ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Levene, and Brown–Forsythe tests, as well as ADF and KPSS stationarity diagnostics, used to assess diferences in throughput and operational stability across the examined networks. The results indicate that the Base network achieves the highest mean throughput (≈ 102 TPS) and the lowest temporal volatility, whereas Linea and Scroll exhibit non-stationary, highly variable transaction dynamics driven by periodic batching. The fndings confrm the persistence of the scalability trilemma—where improvements in performance may come at the cost of higher centralization and operational dependency. This research contributes to the quantitative assessment of rollup efciency and provides a reference point for further empirical studies on blockchain scalability.