# Etherlink RPC Gateway

- By Denis Perepelitsyn
- July 4, 2026
- [Web3 Infrastructure & RPC](/blog/?category=Web3%20Infrastructure%20%26%20RPC)

![Etherlink RPC Gateway](/img/blog/post93.png)

[Crypto-Chief adds support for Etherlink ](https://crypto-chief.com/rpc/etherlink/), an EVM-compatible environment on top of the Tezos blockchain, to its suite of blockchain infrastructure services.

## Key Takeaways

- **Etherlink is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 powered by Tezos Smart Rollups.**
- **The network separates execution from settlement while inheriting Tezos Layer 1 security.**
- **A dedicated sequencer delivers transaction confirmations in under 500 ms under normal conditions.**
- **Smart Rollup nodes independently verify every state transition, ensuring trustless validation.**
- **Etherlink supports standard Ethereum tooling, including Solidity, MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, and JSON-RPC APIs.**
- **A delayed inbox mechanism guarantees censorship resistance by allowing transactions to bypass the sequencer if necessary.**

## Table of Contents

- [What Is Etherlink?](#what-is-etherlink)
- [How Etherlink Works](#how-etherlink-works)
- [Etherlink Architecture Explained](#etherlink-architecture-explained)
- [Why Etherlink Is Different from Other Layer 2 Networks](#why-etherlink-is-different-from-other-layer-2-networks)
- [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq)

## What Is Etherlink?

Etherlink is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain built on top of Tezos using Smart Rollup technology. Rather than competing with Ethereum, Etherlink provides an Ethereum-compatible execution environment while leveraging Tezos as its secure settlement layer.

Developers can deploy existing Solidity smart contracts with little or no modification while gaining access to faster execution, lower transaction costs, and decentralized settlement secured by Tezos Layer 1.

Unlike many Layer 2 networks that rely on centralized infrastructure or external bridges, Etherlink integrates its rollup directly into the Tezos protocol through native Smart Rollups, allowing execution and settlement to remain tightly connected while preserving decentralization.

## How Etherlink Works

Etherlink follows a rollup architecture where transaction execution occurs on Layer 2 while final settlement is performed on Tezos Layer 1.

The workflow consists of three primary stages:

- **users submit transactions through Ethereum-compatible RPC endpoints;**
- **the sequencer orders and executes transactions on Layer 2;**
- **transaction batches are published to Tezos Smart Rollups for verification and settlement.**

Because execution is separated from settlement, Etherlink can achieve significantly higher throughput while maintaining the security guarantees of the underlying Tezos blockchain.

### Execution Layer

The execution layer is responsible for:

- **executing EVM smart contracts;**
- **maintaining account state;**
- **processing transactions;**
- **exposing Ethereum-compatible JSON-RPC endpoints.**

Applications interact only with this layer, making Etherlink appear almost identical to any standard Ethereum network.

### Settlement Layer

Instead of relying solely on Layer 2 validators, Etherlink anchors its state directly to Tezos Layer 1.

Smart Rollup nodes independently reconstruct blockchain state from data published on Tezos, ensuring that execution can always be verified without trusting the sequencer.

This architecture provides cryptographic verification rather than operational trust.

## Etherlink Architecture Explained

Etherlink consists of several specialized components working together.

### Sequencer

The sequencer is responsible for:

- **receiving incoming transactions;**
- **ordering transactions;**
- **creating Layer 2 blocks;**
- **broadcasting blocks to the network;**
- **publishing transaction batches to Tezos.**

Unlike traditional blockchains where validators compete to produce blocks, Etherlink currently uses a dedicated sequencer that dynamically adjusts block production according to network demand.

During periods of low activity, blocks are produced approximately every six seconds.

As transaction volume increases, block times can decrease to roughly 500 milliseconds, enabling significantly lower latency for users.

### EVM Nodes

EVM nodes maintain a synchronized copy of the Etherlink blockchain while exposing Ethereum-compatible APIs.

Their responsibilities include:

- **serving JSON-RPC requests;**
- **forwarding transactions to the sequencer;**
- **maintaining blockchain state;**
- **supporting wallets and decentralized applications.**

Because they follow Ethereum standards, developers can continue using familiar tools such as:

- **MetaMask**
- **Hardhat**
- **Foundry**
- **Remix**
- **Web3.js**
- **ethers.js**

without changing their development workflow.

### Smart Rollup Nodes

Smart Rollup nodes represent the trust layer of Etherlink.

Unlike EVM nodes, they do not trust the sequencer.

Instead, they independently:

- **monitor Tezos Layer 1;**
- **verify every published transaction batch;**
- **reconstruct Etherlink state;**
- **publish commitments;**
- **participate in fraud-proof and refutation mechanisms.**

Because Smart Rollups derive state directly from Layer 1 data, they remain the ultimate source of truth for the network.

### Tezos Layer 1

Tezos serves as Etherlink's settlement and security layer.

Layer 1 is responsible for:

- **storing rollup commitments;**
- **finalizing state transitions;**
- **validating fraud proofs;**
- **securing network consensus;**
- **governing protocol upgrades.**

Rather than replicating consensus mechanisms on Layer 2, Etherlink inherits the security guarantees already provided by Tezos.

### Transaction Lifecycle

A standard Etherlink transaction follows this sequence:

- **A wallet submits a transaction to an EVM node.**
- **The EVM node forwards it to the sequencer.**
- **The sequencer orders transactions.**
- **A Layer 2 block is produced.**
- **The block is distributed across Etherlink.**
- **The block is published to Tezos Layer 1.**
- **Smart Rollup nodes independently verify the block.**
- **The transaction becomes finalized through the rollup protocol.**

Under normal conditions:

- **instant confirmations may arrive in approximately 50 ms;**
- **Layer 2 confirmations typically occur in under 500 ms;**
- **Tezos Layer 1 records transaction batches in approximately 6 seconds.**

Long-term cryptographic finality is achieved after the Smart Rollup refutation period completes.

### Delayed Inbox: Built-in Censorship Resistance

One of Etherlink's most distinctive architectural features is the delayed inbox.

If the sequencer becomes unavailable or refuses to include transactions, users can submit transactions directly to a special Tezos smart contract.

After a predefined delay:

- **Smart Rollup nodes automatically include pending transactions;**
- **transaction processing no longer depends on the sequencer;**
- **censorship attempts cannot permanently block execution.**

This mechanism provides an important safety guarantee rarely found in conventional optimistic rollups.

### Ethereum Compatibility

Etherlink was designed to minimize migration effort for Ethereum developers.

Supported features include:

- **Solidity smart contracts**
- **Ethereum bytecode execution**
- **Ethereum JSON-RPC APIs**
- **MetaMask compatibility**
- **Hardhat support**
- **Foundry integration**
- **Standard Ethereum development workflows**

Most existing Ethereum applications can be deployed with minimal modifications.

## Why Etherlink Is Different from Other Layer 2 Networks

| Feature               | Traditional Optimistic Rollups | Etherlink               |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| Settlement Layer      | Ethereum                       | Tezos Smart Rollups     |
| Virtual Machine       | EVM                            | EVM-compatible          |
| Smart Contracts       | Solidity                       | Solidity                |
| Security              | Fraud proofs                   | Tezos Smart Rollups     |
| Confirmation Speed    | Seconds                        | Sub-second execution    |
| Censorship Protection | Limited                        | Delayed Inbox mechanism |
| Developer Tools       | Ethereum ecosystem             | Ethereum ecosystem      |

### Benefits of Etherlink

Etherlink introduces several architectural advantages:

- **High Performance**  
Dynamic block production enables sub-second confirmations during periods of high activity.
- **Low Transaction Costs**  
Executing transactions off-chain dramatically reduces fees compared to Layer 1 execution.
- **Ethereum Compatibility**  
Existing EVM applications can migrate with minimal redevelopment.
- **Strong Security**  
Transaction validity ultimately depends on Tezos Layer 1 rather than the sequencer.
- **Censorship Resistance**  
The delayed inbox ensures transactions remain processable even if the sequencer becomes unavailable.
- **Permissionless Infrastructure**  
Anyone can operate compatible nodes, verify network state, and participate in securing the ecosystem.

### Potential Use Cases

Etherlink is well suited for applications requiring both Ethereum compatibility and high throughput, including:

- **DeFi protocols**
- **Decentralized exchanges**
- **Blockchain gaming**
- **NFT marketplaces**
- **Real-world asset tokenization**
- **Enterprise blockchain applications**
- **Cross-chain financial infrastructure**
- **Web3 payment systems**

_This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice._

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Etherlink?

Etherlink is an EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain built on Tezos Smart Rollups that combines Ethereum compatibility with fast execution and Tezos-based settlement.

### How does Etherlink work?

Transactions are executed by a Layer 2 sequencer, verified by Smart Rollup nodes, and finalized through Tezos Layer 1, separating execution from settlement for better scalability.

### Is Etherlink compatible with Ethereum?

Yes. Etherlink supports Solidity, Ethereum bytecode, MetaMask, Hardhat, Foundry, JSON-RPC APIs, and most existing Ethereum development tools.

### What makes Etherlink different from other Layer 2 networks?

Etherlink combines EVM compatibility with Tezos Smart Rollup technology, decentralized verification, dynamic block production, and a delayed inbox mechanism that protects against sequencer censorship.

### Why does Etherlink use Smart Rollups?

Smart Rollups allow Etherlink to inherit Tezos Layer 1 security while executing transactions off-chain, enabling higher throughput, low fees, and independently verifiable state transitions.

Tags: [Etherlink](/blog/?tag=Etherlink) [Tezos](/blog/?tag=Tezos) [Smart Rollups](/blog/?tag=Smart%20Rollups) [EVM](/blog/?tag=EVM) [RPC Node](/blog/?tag=RPC%20Node) [Layer 2](/blog/?tag=Layer%202)