What Is Rollup?

A rollup is a Layer 2 scaling solution that processes transactions off Ethereum's main chain, then periodically bundles them together and posts them to Ethereum as a single transaction. This drastically reduces the cost per transaction—critical for airdrop farmers who execute dozens of small swaps and claims daily.

There are two main types: optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism) assume transactions are valid by default and only verify them if challenged, while zk-rollups (StarkNet, zkSync) use zero-knowledge proofs to verify every batch cryptographically. For airdrop farming, optimistic rollups are more common because they're EVM-compatible, meaning you can deploy and interact with protocols like Uniswap without rewriting code.

Why Rollups Matter for Airdrop Farming

Gas fees directly impact farming profitability. A single token swap on Ethereum mainnet during congestion costs $20-100, making small airdrop claims uneconomical. On Arbitrum, the same swap costs $0.10-1.00. This fee reduction lets farmers execute high-frequency farming strategies across multiple protocols simultaneously—claiming airdrops, farming points, and compounding rewards that would be impossible on mainnet.

Real farming examples: Arbitrum became a farming hotspot because Camelot DEX offered high-yield LP positions with low gas friction. Similarly, Optimism's airdrops attracted massive farming activity because users could claim and trade with minimal fees. Hyperliquid's rollup structure allows perpetual traders to farm funding rates and participate in their airdrop programs with negligible transaction costs.

Key for Airdrop Hunters

Monitoring rollup TVL and user activity helps identify nascent airdrop opportunities. New rollups (Linea, Scroll) launch with retroactive airdrop programs—farmers who accumulate early activity often capture disproportionate rewards. Understanding rollup architecture also matters: some rollups have longer withdrawal periods (7 days on Optimism), affecting how quickly you can exit positions or claim tokens.