What are EVM Compatible Blockchains?
Content
Jem
Apr 17, 2025
Ecosystem
EVM compatible blockchains: you've probably heard the term before if you know anything about cryptocurrencies, but do you actually know what EVM compatible blockchains are?
If you're a developer, you'll want to know about all of the top EVM compatible blockchains, as they are the key to the EVM ecosystem. In short, the sheer number of EVM compatible chains means there will be one that works specifically for your app —and within the same ecosystem, you can still enjoy all of the benefits of Ethereum.
But before we dive into the details, let's start with the basics:
What is an EVM compatible blockchain
An EVM compatible blockchain is simply a chain that uses the Ethereum virtual machine. This means it used Ethereum-based tokens and contract standards, allowing for interoperability within the Ethereum Ecosystem.
But there's a bit more to it than that, so let's break it down.
What is the (Ethereum Virtual Machine)?
The EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) is a software environment that executes smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is the backbone of the Ethereum network, responsible for executing all operations and transactions on the blockchain.
It allows for the creation and execution of smart contracts and manages the state of the Ethereum blockchain; including the storage of data, the processing of transactions, and the calculation of gas fees.
The EVM executes code ‘deterministically,’ which means that any given smart contract will always produce the same output for the same input—regardless of where it is executed or who is executing it. This ensures that smart contracts are executed exactly as written without interference from external sources.
It's also designed to provide a secure sandbox for the code to run in. This isolation prevents malicious actors from accessing the underlying system or compromising the security of the network. As a result, no single app can leave the network vulnerable.
What does ‘EVM compatibility’ mean?
EVM compatibility refers to the ability for a blockchain to run the EVM and execute Ethereum smart contracts. This means that developers can write & deploy the same smart contracts across multiple EVM blockchains, without needing to make significant changes to their code. These smart contracts can then interact with other EVM-compatible blockchains through the EVM, allowing anyone to create crosschain apps.
Although they are not synonymous, one of the largest subsets of EVM-compatible blockchains are Layer 2 networks — typically built for scalability & efficiency, while still being able to leverage the Ethereum ecosystem’s tools, technical upgrades, and user base. Layer 2 solutions, such as optimistic rollups & zk-rollups, are built on top of the Ethereum mainnet — but they offer reduced transaction fees and increased blockchain throughput by moving computation off-chain, only committing final state changes back to the mainnet.
Benefits of EVM compatible blockchains
The EVM comes with a number of benefits for developers writing smart contracts & building dApps on EVM-compatible blockchains:
Portability & interoperability
Smart contracts and dApps developed for one EVM-compatible chain (like Ethereum) can be easily migrated to other EVM-compatible chains (like Polygon) with minimal code modifications.
Lower costs
The EVM provides a standardized environment to write smart contracts and develop dApps — allowing developers to write code once and deploy it on any EVM-compatible chain, without having to create separate codebases for each chain. Because everything can be written in Solidity — one of the most widely-used programming languages for Ethereum — the learning curve is also much lower across EVM-compatible blockchains.
Broader user base & developer ecosystem
dApps built on EVM-compatible blockchains are also built on top of the Ethereum network by nature — meaning that they have access to its much broader user base of 100M+ unique wallets, making mass adoption easier for web3 applications built on EVM-compatible networks.
Which blockchains are EVM compatible?
There are many EVM-compatible blockchains that developers can deploy smart contracts on today, each with its own unique features. Some of the most popular examples, in order of TVL (total value locked), include:
Ethereum
Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and team, Ethereum is the original EVM chain; the base layer protocol leveraged by other EVM chains. The Ethereum mainnet is suitable for all types of apps, from foundational infrastructure, DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and more.
Ethereum is the most secure and battle-tested chain in the ecosystem, best suited for applications that require high decentralization, network effects, and long-term stability. However, using the Ethereum mainnet might be too slow or expensive for the needs of some blockchain apps.Arbitrum
Arbitrum is a Layer 2 EVM chain that was created in 2021 by Offchain Labs. It leverages blockchain rollups, specifically optimistic rollups, to ensure scalable transactions. For this reason, Arbitrum is favored by apps built for scale, such as those with frequent transactions and gas-optimized deployments.
Polygon
First launching in 2017 as Matic Network), Polygon was one of the first EVM compatible networks. Later rebranding to Polygon in 2021, and launching several other scaling solutions, Polygon is not just a chain but a multi-faceted ecosystem including sidechains, zk-rollups, a zkEVM, aggregated layer and more.
As one of the oldest EVM compatible chains, Polygon is best known for all kinds of web3 apps, including consumer apps, NFTs, gaming, and large-scale platforms.
Thanks to its flexibility and wide range of scaling options, Polygon is great for dApps that need both performance and customization.Avalanche C-chain
Avalanche was created in 2020 by Ava Labs, and although not all of its ecosystem is EVM compatible, its C-chain is. Avalanche uses a subnet architecture to allow developers to launch tailored blockchains, and essentially, the Avalanche C-chain ensures compatibility with the EVM. This tech stack makes it most suitable for enterprise apps, gaming & apps with the need for tailored chains.
Optimism
Launched in 2021 by Optimism Foundation, Optimism is a Layer 2 optimistic rollup on Ethereum. It's most used for cost-effective, high-frequency blockchain apps and public goods funding. As its name suggests, Optimism brings scalability to Ethereum through optimistic rollups. It's particularly strong in ecosystems promoting open-source, public goods, and experimentation with governance models.
Soneium
Soneium Mainnet is an EVM-compatible blockchain launched in 2024 by Soneium Labs, tailored for healthtech and biotech applications. Its modular architecture and hybrid Proof-of-Stake consensus allow for secure, compliant, and scalable data sharing—ideal for medical research, tokenized clinical trials, and decentralized health apps.
Abstract
Abstract Mainnet, launched in 2023, is built around native account abstraction and smart accounts by default. Designed by the Abstract Protocol team, it simplifies user onboarding with programmable wallets, gasless interactions, and social login. It’s a great fit for developers building consumer-focused web3 apps with seamless UX.
B3
B3 Mainnet debuted in 2023 from B3 Labs as an EVM-compatible chain optimized for AI and blockchain integration. With support for real-time AI inference and on-chain data computation, it enables unique use cases like autonomous agents, AI-powered DeFi strategies, and composable machine learning tools.
Base
Base, launched by Coinbase in 2023, is a Layer 2 chain built on the Optimism OP Stack. It brings Coinbase’s massive user base into the onchain world while offering low fees, fast transactions, and strong developer tooling. Base mainnet is particularly well-suited for consumer apps and onboarding the next million users into web3.
. ApeChain
ApeChain is an EVM-compatible chain designed specifically for the ApeCoin ecosystem and its community. It’s optimized for gaming, entertainment, and NFT use cases, providing low-cost transactions and native integration with ApeCoin. ApeChain is ideal for developers building in the Yuga Labs/metaverse space or targeting high-engagement social experiences.
You can find all of these, along with resources to get started (such as RPCs, block explorers, and faucets) on thirdweb’s Chainlist which features 700+ EVM-compatible blockchains:
How to build a web3 app on EVM compatible blockchains
thirdweb is available on all EVM compatible blockchains, offering the all-in-one toolkit for building powerful web3 apps. We offer SDKs for React, JavaScript, Unity, Python & Go, for every kind of blockchain app and with easy plug-and-play UI componenents for frontend apps. Including tools like:
Wallets & Connectors:
Connect your app to the web3 community through our connect wallet button
Create branded, customized wallets for your app or ecosystem with In-app wallets
Unlock time-locked, signless & gasless transactions with smart wallets
Activate social or email login & auth with our web3 authentication solutions
Smart Contract tools
Pre-built, audited Smart contract templates, so you can deploy an app immediately
Comprehensive + reliable Solidity SDK for building your own custom contracts
Core Contracts + Modules: So you can build smart contracts up with the functions you need
A decentralized storage service that uploads & pins files to IPFS for you
Tools for Scaling
Engine, our backend solution offering backend wallets, nonce management + more.
A powerful blockchain indexer, built for querying data on any EVM—with lightning speed.
RPC Edge, our performant & reliable RPC Endpoint service for all EVM chains
An intuitive dashboard to manage and view your projects, team members.
… and more
Concluding thoughts: The future is multi-chain
In conclusion, EVM-compatible blockchains are extremely beneficial in that they can optimize for scalability and efficiency — while also being built on top of the Ethereum network and leveraging everything it has to offer.
Because the EVM provides a standardized environment for blockchain apps, any application built on an EVM-compatible blockchain is portable and interoperable with other EVM networks — enabling access to the broader Ethereum ecosystem for all dApps built on those blockchains.
We hope this blog post has helped you better understand what EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) is, why EVM compatibility unlocks powerful functionality for blockchains, and which EVM-compatible networks you can build on top of.