Optimism plans to unify its Superchain with an interoperability layer
Optimism’s Superchain consists of 29 OP Stack chains today, soon to be unified through one interoperability layer
CryptoFX/Shutterstock and Adobe modified by Blockworks
Optimism announced on Monday a plan to create a native protocol layer solution that will solve the problem of liquidity fragmentation across its ecosystem of rollup chains, also referred to as the Superchain.
The layer-2 giant’s solution will unify its ecosystem through a “universal standard of interoperability.”
In a world where spinning up a rollup is as simple to do with a few clicks, issues of liquidity fragmentation and high-friction user experience remain as users require third-party bridges to jump from chain to chain.
The new Optimism multichain protocol layer will comprise four key components: A message passing protocol for cross-chain communication, a standardized SuperchainERC20 token standard for bridged assets, an interoperable chain set for all OP Stack rollup chains to read data from and lastly, a shared interop fault proof system which allows fault proofs between multiple chains.
Optimism’s native protocol layer will also leverage ERC-7683, a proposed standard by Uniswap and Across for cross-chain intents to facilitate interoperability on the dapp layer.
Read more from our opinion section: Interoperability isn’t just a buzzword
The rollout is planned over a three-stage roadmap. First, a devnet will be launched to gather feedback, followed by a testnet launch alongside the message passing protocol and SuperchainERC20 token standard. Finally will come the mainnet launch.
The end goal is to create a unified experience not only between all Optimism chains but also across Ethereum, where users can enjoy the convenience of seamless cross-chain movements and the benefit of unified liquidity.
Optimism’s OP Stack has seen the highest traction between all other rollup development stacks, largely thanks to a crucial first-mover advantage that is key in an open-source network.
OP is an open-source and modular software development stack that builders use to deploy a customized rollup.
Optimism’s Superchain boasts 29 OP Stack chains — including Base, Blast and Zora — more than any other rollup development stack. Sam Altman-backed Worldcoin’s upcoming World Chain layer-2 is also slated to be launched using the OP Stack later this year.
All 29 chains account for 36.4% of all layer-2 transactions, as of August 2024, and control $16.57 billion of value in TVL, according to L2beat.
Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:
- The Breakdown: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.
- 0xResearch: Alpha in your inbox. Think like an analyst.
- Empire: Crypto news and analysis to start your day.
- Forward Guidance: The intersection of crypto, macro and policy.
- The Drop: Apps, games, memes and more.
- Lightspeed: All things Solana.
- Supply Shock: Bitcoin, bitcoin, bitcoin.
