PUBLIC vs OP: The Battle for Dominance in Online Gaming Communities

The article explores the investment comparison between PublicAI (PUBLIC) and Optimism (OP), highlighting their market cap, application scenarios, and price performance. It addresses key investor questions regarding which is a better buy currently, examining historical price trends, supply mechanisms, and institutional adoption. The article provides strategies for both conservative and aggressive investors and assesses risks associated with each token. Suitable for crypto investors, it discusses PUBLIC's unique tokenomics and OP's established ecosystem, offering insights into investment strategies and future price predictions. Access real-time PUBLIC and OP prices on Gate for informed decisions.

Introduction: Investment Comparison of PUBLIC vs OP

In the cryptocurrency market, the comparison between PublicAI (PUBLIC) and Optimism (OP) has been an unavoidable topic for investors. The two not only show significant differences in market cap ranking, application scenarios, and price performance, but also represent different positioning in the crypto asset space.

PublicAI (PUBLIC): Since its launch, it has gained market recognition for its role in building the human layer of AI using a gig economy model.

Optimism (OP): Introduced in 2022, it has been hailed as a low-cost, lightning-fast Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain solution.

This article will comprehensively analyze the investment value comparison between PUBLIC and OP, focusing on historical price trends, supply mechanisms, institutional adoption, technological ecosystems, and future predictions, attempting to answer the question investors are most concerned about:

"Which is the better buy right now?"

I. Price History Comparison and Current Market Status

  • 2025: PUBLIC reached its all-time high of $0.08285 on August 15, but has since declined significantly.
  • 2024: OP hit its all-time high of $4.84 on March 6, showing strong performance earlier in the year.
  • Comparative Analysis: In the current market cycle, PUBLIC has dropped from its peak of $0.08285 to a low of $0.02554, while OP has fallen from $4.84 to $0.288846, both experiencing substantial declines.

Current Market Situation (2025-11-22)

  • PUBLIC current price: $0.02568
  • OP current price: $0.2983
  • 24-hour trading volume: PUBLIC $21,052.57 vs OP $3,507,514.61
  • Market Sentiment Index (Fear & Greed Index): 11 (Extreme Fear)

Click to view real-time prices:

price_image1 price_image2

II. Core Factors Affecting the Investment Value of PUBLIC vs OP

Supply Mechanism Comparison (Tokenomics)

  • PUBLIC: Initial supply of 10 billion tokens, with 100% of tokens being distributed via free claims to public goods, Optimism and SAFE communities.
  • OP: Total supply of 4.29 billion tokens, allocated across community, ecosystem fund, investors, core contributors and the Optimism Foundation.
  • 📌 Historical pattern: PUBLIC's fully distributed model creates unique initial market dynamics compared to OP's more traditional allocation approach with lockup periods.

Institutional Adoption and Market Applications

  • Institutional holdings: OP has established partnerships with major protocols and secured significant institutional backing through its investment rounds.
  • Enterprise adoption: OP has gained traction across the DeFi ecosystem with major protocols building on Optimism, while PUBLIC is still in early stages of adoption.
  • Regulatory attitudes: Both tokens operate within the Layer 2 scaling solution space with similar regulatory considerations.

Technical Development and Ecosystem Building

  • PUBLIC technical focus: Operates on Optimism's infrastructure, focusing on public goods funding and community governance.
  • OP technical development: Continuous development of the Optimism ecosystem with the OP Stack, supporting various L2 solutions.
  • Ecosystem comparison: OP has a more established ecosystem with significant DeFi and NFT activity, while PUBLIC is positioned as a governance token for public goods funding.

Macroeconomic and Market Cycles

  • Inflation environment performance: Both tokens are relatively new digital assets with limited historical data on inflation resistance.
  • Macro monetary policy: As crypto assets, both are subject to similar influences from interest rates and USD strength.
  • Geopolitical factors: Both operate on the same Ethereum L2 infrastructure with similar exposure to global regulatory developments.

III. 2025-2030 Price Prediction: PUBLIC vs OP

Short-term Prediction (2025)

  • PUBLIC: Conservative $0.015414 - $0.02569 | Optimistic $0.02569 - $0.0267176
  • OP: Conservative $0.167888 - $0.2998 | Optimistic $0.2998 - $0.338774

Mid-term Prediction (2027)

  • PUBLIC may enter a growth phase, with prices expected between $0.0204913716 and $0.0379693062
  • OP may enter a bullish market, with prices expected between $0.22988664 and $0.502877025
  • Key drivers: Institutional capital inflow, ETF, ecosystem development

Long-term Prediction (2030)

  • PUBLIC: Base scenario $0.03523486705927 - $0.04761468521523 | Optimistic scenario $0.04761468521523 - $0.069517440414235
  • OP: Base scenario $0.5216854878099 - $0.64405615779 | Optimistic scenario $0.64405615779 - $0.6762589656795

View detailed price predictions for PUBLIC and OP

Disclaimer

PUBLIC:

年份 预测最高价 预测平均价格 预测最低价 涨跌幅
2025 0.0267176 0.02569 0.015414 0
2026 0.03406494 0.0262038 0.01441209 2
2027 0.0379693062 0.03013437 0.0204913716 17
2028 0.046651018197 0.0340518381 0.021112139622 32
2029 0.05487794228196 0.0403514281485 0.035912771052165 57
2030 0.069517440414235 0.04761468521523 0.03523486705927 85

OP:

年份 预测最高价 预测平均价格 预测最低价 涨跌幅
2025 0.338774 0.2998 0.167888 0
2026 0.39910875 0.319287 0.21711516 7
2027 0.502877025 0.359197875 0.22988664 20
2028 0.6077628045 0.43103745 0.310346964 44
2029 0.76871218833 0.51940012725 0.2752820674425 74
2030 0.6762589656795 0.64405615779 0.5216854878099 115

IV. Investment Strategy Comparison: PUBLIC vs OP

Long-term vs Short-term Investment Strategy

  • PUBLIC: Suitable for investors focused on public goods funding and community governance
  • OP: Suitable for investors interested in Layer 2 scaling solutions and DeFi ecosystem growth

Risk Management and Asset Allocation

  • Conservative investors: PUBLIC: 20% vs OP: 80%
  • Aggressive investors: PUBLIC: 40% vs OP: 60%
  • Hedging tools: Stablecoin allocation, options, cross-currency portfolios

V. Potential Risk Comparison

Market Risk

  • PUBLIC: High volatility due to early-stage market and fully distributed tokenomics
  • OP: Subject to broader Layer 2 and DeFi market trends

Technical Risk

  • PUBLIC: Reliance on Optimism's infrastructure, ecosystem development challenges
  • OP: Scalability issues, network stability, potential security vulnerabilities

Regulatory Risk

  • Global regulatory policies may impact both tokens, with potential differences in treatment of governance tokens vs. Layer 2 solutions

VI. Conclusion: Which Is the Better Buy?

📌 Investment Value Summary:

  • PUBLIC advantages: Unique tokenomics model, focus on public goods funding
  • OP advantages: Established ecosystem, strong institutional backing, technical development progress

✅ Investment Advice:

  • New investors: Consider a small allocation to OP as part of a diversified crypto portfolio
  • Experienced investors: Balanced approach with both PUBLIC and OP, aligning with risk tolerance
  • Institutional investors: Focus on OP for its established ecosystem and partnerships, monitor PUBLIC for potential long-term value

⚠️ Risk Warning: The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile. This article does not constitute investment advice. None

VII. FAQ

Q1: What are the main differences between PUBLIC and OP tokens? A: PUBLIC is focused on building the human layer of AI using a gig economy model, while OP is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. PUBLIC has a fully distributed tokenomics model, whereas OP has a more traditional allocation approach with lockup periods.

Q2: Which token has shown better price performance historically? A: OP has shown stronger historical price performance, reaching an all-time high of $4.84 in March 2024. PUBLIC's all-time high was $0.08285 in August 2025, but both tokens have experienced significant declines since their peaks.

Q3: How do the market capitalizations and trading volumes of PUBLIC and OP compare? A: OP has a significantly higher market capitalization and trading volume compared to PUBLIC. As of November 22, 2025, OP's 24-hour trading volume was $3,507,514.61, while PUBLIC's was $21,052.57.

Q4: What are the key factors affecting the investment value of PUBLIC and OP? A: Key factors include supply mechanisms, institutional adoption, technical development, ecosystem building, and macroeconomic conditions. OP has a more established ecosystem and stronger institutional backing, while PUBLIC offers a unique tokenomics model focused on public goods funding.

Q5: How do the long-term price predictions for PUBLIC and OP differ? A: By 2030, the base scenario for PUBLIC predicts a range of $0.03523486705927 - $0.04761468521523, while OP's base scenario is $0.5216854878099 - $0.64405615779. OP is expected to have higher potential price growth in the long term.

Q6: What are the main risks associated with investing in PUBLIC and OP? A: Both tokens face market risks due to crypto volatility. PUBLIC has higher volatility due to its early-stage market and fully distributed tokenomics. Technical risks include reliance on infrastructure and potential security vulnerabilities. Regulatory risks apply to both tokens but may differ based on their classification as governance tokens or Layer 2 solutions.

Q7: Which token is considered a better buy for different types of investors? A: For new investors, OP may be a better choice due to its established ecosystem. Experienced investors might consider a balanced approach with both tokens. Institutional investors may focus more on OP for its partnerships and development progress, while monitoring PUBLIC for long-term potential.

* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.