What Is Linea?
Linea is an Ethereum Layer 2 built by Consensys, one of the oldest infrastructure companies in the Ethereum ecosystem. Launched on mainnet in July 2023, it is a zkEVM rollup: transactions run off-chain, and zero-knowledge validity proofs are posted to Ethereum, so the network inherits Ethereum's security while cutting fees to well under a cent for transfers. Linea is fully EVM-equivalent - any Ethereum application runs on it without code changes - and in early 2026 it moved to a Type-1 zkEVM with finality reduced to around 15 minutes. As of mid-2026, the network holds over $400 million in value. See A Beginner's Guide to Linea Blockchain for the basics.
ETH for Gas and the LINEA Token
Linea has no separate gas token: every fee is paid in ETH, the same asset you use on Ethereum mainnet - no extra token needed just to transact. The LINEA token launched in September 2025 with an unusual economic loop called the dual burn: 20% of the network's net ETH fee revenue is burned outright, and the remaining 80% is used to buy back and burn LINEA. The busier the network, the scarcer both assets become - a design that ties the token's economics directly to real usage rather than governance promises.
What Is a Linea Wallet?
A Linea wallet is an app that stores the private keys to your address on the Linea network and lets you hold, send, and receive ETH, LINEA, and ERC20 tokens on the chain. Because Linea is EVM-equivalent, your Linea address is the same 42-character 0x address you use on Ethereum - one key, two networks.
Gem Wallet is a self-custodial Linea wallet: keys are generated and stored on your device, protected by a single 12-word recovery phrase that covers Linea, Ethereum, and every other supported network - no accounts, no tracking. NFTs and WalletConnect are supported out of the box.
Linea vs Ethereum Mainnet
| Parameter | Linea | Ethereum Mainnet |
|---|---|---|
| Type | zkEVM Layer 2 rollup | Layer 1 |
| Gas token | ETH | ETH |
| Typical transfer fee | Under $0.01 | ~$0.10 and up |
| Security | Validity proofs settled on Ethereum | Ethereum consensus |
| Best for | Cheap swaps, DeFi, NFTs, everyday transfers | Large transfers, deepest liquidity |
Data source: What Is The Linea Blockchain?
Why Gem Wallet for Linea
- Self-custody: only you control the private keys to your assets on Linea - Gem Wallet never has access to your funds.
- Open source: the wallet's code is fully public, so anyone can verify how the Linea integration works.
- Buy ETH: buy Ethereum with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay through integrated fiat on-ramp providers, then use it across Linea and mainnet.
- Swap: exchange ETH, LINEA, and ERC20 tokens through a built-in DEX aggregator that routes each trade for the best available rate.
- One address, many L2s: the same 0x account works on Linea, Base, Arbitrum, and other Ethereum Layer 2s - with one recovery phrase behind them all.
Download Gem Wallet and set up your Linea wallet in under two minutes - Ethereum's ecosystem at sub-cent fees, with your keys always in your hands.








