Optimism (OP) is an Ethereum L2 solution, enabling users to transfer Ether much quicker and with lower gas fees, making it a good tool for blockchain development. Its test network Optimism Sepolia helps developers test their applications without spending real ETH, mastering the network operations.
Here is a practical guide on how to add a testnet Optimism network to the MetaMask wallet and experiment with test ETH in the network.
What is Optimism Sepolia?
One of the Layer-2 Ethereum chains, Optimism enables much quicker and smoother interactions with smart contracts. Due to its structure, it optimizes transactions, enabling fast proceeding and lower gas fees. That's why developers actively use it in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Testnets are networks imitating the actual blockchain but without any real value. Therefore, all operations here are totally free, which is beneficial for developing and testing. Sepolia is the latest version of Optimism testnet, similar to many other Ethereum-based chains. The Optimism Goerli testnet with its faucet has been used before, but it depreciated now.
Here, let's see how you can add it to your crypto wallet and then obtain test ETH.
Adding Optimism Testnet to MetaMask: Preparatory Steps
Before we continue, ensure that you have a MetaMask account and its browser extension, so you can operate it. After that, obtain a GetBlock endpoint URL, which is your connection point to the network. Before accessing the Optimism testnet faucet, set up your environment.
Here is a quick algorithm of how to get it.
- Register at GetBlock, using your MetaMask address.
- Go to the dashboard and choose Optimism protocol in the My endpoints menu.
- Choose Sepolia network and JSON-RPC API/add-on.
- Click Get and have your personal free Optimism endpoint.
With this endpoint, you can make 40,000 blockchain requests per day at a speed of 60 requests per second, which is more than enough for personal use. Increased speed and large request numbers are available in our paid plans, starting at $29/month for shared nodes and $600/month for private dedicated nodes.
How to Add Optimism Sepolia to MetaMask: Tutorial
After having your link, it should be added to the crypto wallet to be used. Let’s explore this process in three steps.
Step 1: Start with Wallet Settings
Go to the MetaMask extension, open and unlock it, and start setting the network.
- Open the three-dots icon on the top right, and click Settings.
- Scroll down and select the Network item.
- On the next tab below, click on the blue button labeled Add network.
- Proceed to the new browser tab, scroll down, and click Add a network manually.
That’s where you can add a new blockchain network, so in the next step, we need to set our network’s parameters.
Step 2: Arrange Optimism Sepolia Parameters
Each network has its unique chain ID and requires an RPC URL to establish a blockchain connection and send requests. The OP Sepolia network parameters are specified below.
| Network | OP Sepolia |
|---|---|
| RPC URL | https://go.getblock.io/ |
| Chain ID | 11155420 |
| Currency | ETH |
| Block Explorer | https://sepolia-optimistic.etherscan.io/ |
After typing all these parameters, including the newly obtained GetBlock node endpoint, click Save.
Step 3: Change Active Network
Now, you have your Optimism network in the wallet, so it can be selected in the upper left list for network choosing.
How to Get Optimism Test ETH on MetaMask?
Developers need to use the Optimism faucet to obtain test ETH, after which they can use it immediately. While it has no real-world value, usually its daily amount is limited to prevent network overload.
Let’s see how to use GetBlock faucets to test Ether in the Optimism network.
- In the faucet list, select the Optimism Sepolia Faucet and click Try Now.
- After authorization, enter your MetaMask tesnnet address and click Claim Token.
- Complete a required captcha to obtain test ETH as a reward.
After some time, your funds will arrive, and you can start experimenting! But remember: they have no real value, and it’s impossible to pay for anything with them or send them to mainnet.
Note that the Optimism Goerli faucet can also be found, but the network is deprecated, so it’s better to focus on Sepolia.
Conclusion
Due to specifically provided testing environments and free test tokens, testnets are highly beneficial for blockchain enthusiasts and developers to explore and test the network properties and capabilities.
The Optimism Sepolia faucet is what you need to get free test ETH on your testnet address, after which you can use it to test dApps, try methods, and many other network purposes.
