Arbitrum’s higher Total Value Locked (TVL) of $2.7 billion compared to Optimism’s $1.69 billion suggests stronger current adoption, particularly in DeFi. However, Optimism’s ecosystem grants and focus on interoperability could drive faster growth in emerging sectors like NFTs and gaming. Investors seeking short-term stability may prefer Arbitrum, while those betting on long-term ecosystem expansion might favor Optimism’s modular approach. Both are high-risk, high-reward investments, with volatility tied to Ethereum’s broader adoption and regulatory developments.