Optimism promises advanced features by inviting Layer-3 networks to the superchain.
Ethereum Layer-2 (L2) Optimism has called for Layer-3 (L3) blockchains to join the superchain by building an OP Stack and sharing sequencer revenue with the Optimism Collective.
Superchain is a decentralized blockchain platform composed of many chains that share a security and technology stack (OP stack). It already boasts several successful L2 networks such as OP Mainnet and Base.
L3 Network joining the Superchain will have access to retroactive funding, airdrops, growth campaigns, and an extensive network of fellow developers.
It added:
“These chains are part of the superchain, but they deviate from the standard configuration of the OP stack. This will impact how we roll out features like interoperability.”
What’s new
The network has introduced two new features to support building L3 blockchains through the OP stack: custom gas tokens and plasma mode.
Custom gas tokens allow the L3 network to customize transaction fees, leveraging existing L2 tokens as gas fees. This innovation streamlines the onboarding process to Optimism Superchain, improving accessibility to the L3 network.
Plasma mode, on the other hand, gives developers the flexibility to choose the data availability tier. This selection is expected to significantly reduce the cost of launching new networks.
L3 is gaining attention
L3 chains are becoming increasingly popular in the industry following the recent success of Degen Chain.
Optimism said the L3 network is “an important part of making the superchain accessible to development teams with diverse needs and resources.” Meanwhile, similar initiatives are underway in several other major L2s. Arbitrum developer Offchain Labs has released tools for developing Orbits, essentially an L3 chain, in 2023.
However, enthusiasm for L3 solutions is not unanimous. Polygon, a popular Ethereum scaling provider, has expressed doubts, with CEO Marc Boiron expressing concerns about the potential impact on Ethereum’s security posture.
Other experts also advocate prioritizing the maturation and resolution of existing problems within the L3 framework before shifting focus to L3 solutions.
