The leading modular blockchains include Arbitrum, Manta Network, Celestia, Optimism, and Berachain. These projects separate core blockchain functions—execution, consensus, and data availability—into distinct layers, enhancing speed, lowering costs, and boosting flexibility for developers and users. When selecting the best modular blockchain, consider factors such as the project team’s expertise, use cases, scalability, community involvement, interoperability, and tokenomics. This overview covers the top five modular blockchains and traces the blockchain evolution from monolithic to modular designs, highlighting the benefits and future impact of modular architectures. 1. Arbitrum Arbitrum is an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution using optimistic rollups to increase transactions per second (TPS) and reduce costs by settling off-chain and publishing results on Ethereum’s mainnet. It separates execution, consensus, and data availability, enhancing efficiency—core to modular blockchains. Its custom Arbitrum Virtual Machine (AVM) is Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible, allowing easy deployment of Ethereum smart contracts. A multi-round fraud-proof system enables validators to challenge malicious transactions, preserving network integrity. Arbitrum processes up to 40, 000 TPS—over twice Ethereum’s capacity—offering fast, low-cost deployment for decentralized applications (dApps). The recent Stylus upgrade adds support for smart contracts in Rust and C++ alongside Solidity. Key features: - Optimistic rollups for off-chain processing and lower costs - Stylus upgrade enabling contract coding in Rust, C++, and Solidity - EVM compatibility for seamless Ethereum dApp deployment - High throughput with up to 40, 000 TPS - Decentralized governance via the Arbitrum DAO with ARB token staking Pros: High speed and low fees; strong security via fraud proofs; developer-friendly with minimal contract changes. Cons: Withdrawal delays due to a seven-day challenge period; limited interoperability with other Layer 2s. 2. Manta Network Manta Network focuses on zero-knowledge (ZK) applications with a modular design. It consists of two parts: Manta Pacific, an Ethereum Layer 2 optimized for EVM-native ZK apps relying on Celestia for data availability and transitioning to a zkEVM; and Manta Atlantic, a Polkadot Layer 1 blockchain targeting programmable identities with zkSoulbound Tokens (zkSBTs) for privacy and compliance. Founded in 2020, Manta supports 200+ dApps and leverages Celestia’s modular data availability and Universal Circuits for integrating ZK-enabled contracts with minimal code changes, ideal for DeFi, gaming, and identity verification. Key features: - Modular architecture with Celestia for data availability and zkEVM for execution - Zero-knowledge proofs ensuring private transactions and identity verification - Gas fees up to 90% lower than typical Layer 2 solutions - Universal Circuits offering a ZK library for Solidity smart contracts - Interoperability between Manta Pacific and Atlantic through cross-chain bridges Pros: Scalable, low-cost transactions; strong privacy; flexible modular design; interoperable ecosystem; developer-friendly ZK tools. Cons: Dual-chain complexity may challenge newcomers; full zkEVM transition ongoing. 3. Celestia Celestia pioneers modular blockchain by separating consensus and data availability from execution, enabling developers to build customizable blockchains without managing full infrastructure. A key innovation is Data Availability Sampling (DAS), allowing light nodes to verify large datasets by sampling small parts, reducing hardware needs and transaction costs. This supports sovereign rollups and application-specific chains that scale securely and decentralize transaction ordering via proof-of-stake with CometBFT. Key features: - Data Availability Sampling for scalable, efficient block verification - Modular architecture separating consensus, data, and execution - Sovereign rollups facilitating custom blockchain deployment - Proof-of-Stake consensus via CometBFT - Namespaced Merkle Trees for efficient, secure data access Pros: Enables scalable dApps; lowers hardware requirements; simplifies custom blockchain deployment; supports cross-chain interoperability; maintains uniform security. Cons: Emerging technology with evolving ecosystem; relies on external rollups for execution. 4. Optimism Optimism is an Ethereum Layer 2 modular blockchain leveraging optimistic rollups to execute transactions off-chain and verify on Ethereum, reducing gas fees and accelerating speed while preserving security. Execution occurs on Optimism with final settlement on Ethereum. Fully EVM compatible, it allows Ethereum smart contracts to deploy with minimal adjustments and uses Geth for client compatibility. The Bedrock upgrade brought a 47% fee reduction, deposit times cut to 3 minutes, and enhanced Ethereum compatibility via features like EIP-1559.

Governance is managed by the Optimism Collective using the OP token for protocol upgrades and public goods funding. Key features: - Optimistic rollups for cost reduction and speed - Full EVM compatibility for seamless contract deployment - Bedrock upgrade improving fees, deposit speed, and Ethereum compatibility - Vision for an interoperable “Superchain” network - Support for ecosystem-enhancing public goods funding Pros: Substantially reduces Ethereum gas fees; preserves Ethereum-level security; broad tool compatibility; decentralized governance; funding for public goods. Cons: 7-day withdrawal delay; Superchain interoperability is a future development. 5. Berachain Berachain is a Layer 1, modular, high-performance blockchain with native EVM support, enabling direct deployment of Ethereum applications without code changes. Built on Cosmos SDK, it modularly separates execution, settlement, consensus, and data availability. Unique to Berachain is the Proof-of-Liquidity (PoL) consensus, rewarding users providing liquidity, unlike traditional Proof-of-Stake systems. It employs BeaconKit to ease Ethereum app development. Its triple-token economy includes BERA (gas), BGT (governance), and HONEY (stablecoin), supporting DeFi, NFTs, and Layer 2 solutions since its 2025 launch. Key features: - EVM compatibility for native Ethereum app deployment - Multi-token system separating transaction fees, governance, and stable payments - Modular architecture via BeaconKit for scalable development - Native DeFi dApps like BEX and Honey Swap - Cross-chain interoperability through native bridges Pros: PoL boosts liquidity and reduces fragmentation; fast finality; cross-chain support; modular design for customized blockchains. Cons: New with unproven long-term stability; currently lower adoption than other modular blockchains. Blockchain Evolution: From Monolithic to Modular Early blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum used a monolithic design, where all core functions—consensus, execution, data storage—occurred on a single layer with every node handling all tasks. This ensured security and decentralization but limited scalability, causing slower transactions and higher fees as usage grew. Modular blockchains break these functions into layers: - Execution layer handles smart contract processing - Consensus layer ensures network agreement - Data availability layer stores and distributes transaction data - Settlement layer finalizes transactions Ethereum’s 2022 Merge and rollups (e. g. , Arbitrum, Optimism) exemplify this transition, executing off-chain but relying on Ethereum for consensus and data. Why the Shift to Modular? Monolithic blockchains cap speed and raise costs because each node performs all tasks. Modular blockchains separate concerns over multiple layers, boosting scalability, flexibility, and efficiency. Ethereum’s adoption of rollups and sharding, alongside native modular blockchains like Celestia, reflects this trend. Benefits include: - Enhanced scalability by distributing work - Lower transaction costs via efficiency - Greater flexibility with customizable layers - Easier system upgrades by updating layers independently - Stronger security by leveraging established chains for settlement - Improved decentralization with distributed layer responsibilities Choosing the Best Modular Blockchain Evaluate the project team’s experience and track record, ensuring credibility and relevant scaling expertise. Assess if the project addresses valuable use cases and provides robust technical design supporting high transaction volumes. Active community engagement signals adoption and longevity. Verify interoperability with major networks (Ethereum, Cosmos) for broader utility. Review tokenomics for balanced incentives supporting staking, governance, and transaction fees. Why Modular Blockchains Matter They solve monolithic limitations, delivering improved scalability, reduced costs, enhanced flexibility, seamless upgrades, heightened security, and strong decentralization—key for blockchain’s future growth. Is Solana Monolithic or Modular? Solana is monolithic; it performs execution, consensus, and data availability on a single layer with all validator nodes executing every function. This demands powerful hardware and has led to network outages and centralization concerns, contrasting with modular architectures. In sum, modular blockchains represent the next evolution of the technology, optimizing performance and usability by splitting blockchain functions across specialized layers. This approach enables faster, cheaper, and more flexible blockchain ecosystems, with projects like Arbitrum, Manta Network, Celestia, Optimism, and Berachain leading the way.