Have you seen the buzz around this new Ethereum L2 called Lighter? It popped up seemingly out of nowhere and is already posting TPS numbers that make heavyweights like Base and Optimism look like they're running in slow motion. A recent tweet from Chase Eberhardt, a key figure at Solana Mobile, captures the shock perfectly.

In his post, Chase questions, "What the fuck is lighter? Is it just a fake L2? Literally comes out of nowhere doing more tps than all established L2 combined. Look at those numbers lol." And he's not exaggerating—the attached chart shows Lighter clocking in at a whopping 4,782 TPS, while Base trails at 139.8, Optimism at 75.0, and Arbitrum at a mere 35.7. That's not just impressive; it's game-changing.

Following up in the thread, Chase adds, "If it is real then these major L2s like base getting cooked 💀." The skepticism is real, especially coming from someone in the Solana camp, where high throughput is a hallmark. But a reply from @DecentricStudio clarifies: "its a perp thing like hyperliquid lol." That hits the nail on the head.

For those new to the term, a perp DEX is a decentralized exchange focused on perpetual futures—contracts that let you bet on asset prices without expiration dates. Think of it as turbocharged trading. Lighter, as detailed on their site, is a zero-knowledge rollup built on Ethereum, optimized for speed and scale with custom ZK circuits for verifiable matching and liquidations. It launched its mainnet in early October 2025 after months of beta testing, aiming to blend high-frequency performance with on-chain transparency.

Why does this matter for meme token enthusiasts? Meme coins thrive on hype, volatility, and rapid trading. Platforms like Hyperliquid have already shown how specialized chains can handle perp trading for memes efficiently. Lighter could bring that to Ethereum's ecosystem, offering lower costs, lower latency, and Ethereum's security. Imagine trading perps on your favorite dog-themed token with TPS that rivals Solana but backed by Ethereum's robustness. No more waiting for confirmations during a pump—it's all about instant action.

Of course, questions linger. Is Lighter's TPS sustainable, or is it a launch-day spike? Audits from firms like Zellic and ABDK add credibility, but real-world stress tests, like the one on October 10, will tell. As Bankless discussed with founder Vlad Novakovski, Lighter prioritizes traders with features like auto-deleveraging alternatives and fair liquidations.

If you're diving into meme tokens or blockchain trading, keep an eye on Lighter. It might just be the upgrade Ethereum L2s needed to compete in the fast-paced world of perps. What do you think—game-changer or hype? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.