The Ethereum network is powerful, but it can be slow and expensive during periods of high demand. That’s where Optimism comes in — a Layer 2 scaling solution designed to make Ethereum faster and more cost-effective. It’s an ideal choice for developers looking to build dApps with better performance and lower fees, without sacrificing Ethereum’s security.
If you’re building on Optimism, reliable and scalable access to the OP Mainnet is essential. That’s where NOWNodes can help, by giving you full access to Optimism infrastructure in minutes — no servers, no maintenance, no delays.
What Is Optimism?
Optimism is a Layer 2 network that improves Ethereum’s scalability through an Optimistic Rollup model. Instead of processing every transaction directly on Ethereum, Optimism batches them off-chain and posts a summary back to Layer 1. This drastically reduces gas fees and speeds up transactions.
Key features of Optimism:
- Fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
- Lower transaction fees compared to Ethereum Layer 1
- Fast confirmations and improved user experience
- Inherits Ethereum’s security guarantees
Optimism is already powering a wide range of applications — from DeFi protocols to NFT platforms, blockchain games, and infrastructure tools.
Why Node Access Matters
Any application interacting with Optimism needs to communicate with the network through a node. This is how your app:
- Queries blockchain data
- Sends and receives transactions
- Interacts with smart contracts
- Listens for on-chain events in real time
You could run your own node, but managing infrastructure is time-consuming and expensive. Instead, most developers choose to use a managed node provider. That’s where NOWNodes comes in — giving you fast, reliable access to Optimism’s network without the hassle of self-hosting.
What You Get with NOWNodes
NOWNodes gives developers access to four key types of Optimism nodes and APIs.
1. Full Node (RPC)
This is the core connection point to the blockchain. Use the RPC endpoint to query the latest state, send transactions, and interact with deployed contracts.
Example RPC endpoint:
https://optimism.nownodes.io/{YOUR_API_KEY}
2. WebSocket (WSS)
WebSockets are essential for real-time blockchain updates. With WSS, your application can listen for new blocks, pending transactions, logs, and events as they happen.
Example WSS endpoint:
wss:/optimism.nownodes.io/wss/{YOUR_API_KEY}
3. Indexed API
Unlike standard nodes, indexed APIs give you access to enriched and historical data — like balances, transactions per address, logs, and more. Great for explorers, analytics tools, and wallets.
Example Indexed API endpoint:
https://optimism-index.nownodes.io/{YOUR_API_KEY}
4. Indexed WebSocket
This combines the power of real-time updates with historical data. Ideal for applications that need fast access and deep insight into blockchain activity.
Example Indexed WebSocket endpoint:
wss://optimism-index.nownodes.io/wss/{YOUR_API_KEY}
How to Connect in Just a Few Steps
You can start using Optimism via NOWNodes in under two minutes:
- Go to https://nownodes.io
- Sign up and generate your API key
- Plug that key into the endpoint of your choice
Why Choose NOWNodes?
Here’s what makes NOWNodes a reliable Optimism infrastructure provider:
- No setup, syncing, or server maintenance
- High-speed RPC and WSS connections
- Indexed access for fast and flexible querying
- Free-tier access for testing and development on a Start plan
- Support for 110+ other blockchain networks
Final Thoughts
Optimism is playing a critical role in scaling Ethereum. If you’re building apps that demand lower gas fees, fast finality, and access to Ethereum’s thriving ecosystem, Optimism is a smart choice.
But to get the most out of it, you need fast, stable access to the network — and that’s what NOWNodes delivers. With full node, WebSocket, and indexed API access, you get everything you need to build confidently on the OP Mainnet.
