TL;DR
Kraken’s Layer-2 blockchain solution, Ink, launched ahead of schedule, driven by strong community support and developer enthusiasm.
Ink integrates deeply with Optimism’s Superchain, expected to drive Ethereum scaling and bolster both platforms’ growth and ecosystem synergy.
Moving forward, Ink will progress toward Stage 1 decentralization with permissionless fault proofs in January 2025, enhancing accountability and attracting more developers and users to the platform.
Kraken’s Layer-2 blockchain solution, Ink, has launched on the mainnet ahead of schedule, driven by strong community support and developer enthusiasm. This early launch marks a significant milestone for Kraken and the broader blockchain community. Ink aims to enhance decentralization and interoperability within the Ethereum ecosystem.
The project integrates deeply with Optimism’s Superchain. This move is expected to drive Ethereum scaling and bolster both platforms’ growth and ecosystem synergy.
Details of Ink’s Launch
Ink’s launch was initially planned for 2025, but due to millions of testnet transactions and a substantial number of connected wallets, Kraken expedited the rollout. After its first announcement, the network quickly grew to over 100,000 users, highlighting the strong demand and positive reception from the community.
Andrew Koller, founder of Ink, expressed his excitement, stating, “Today is just the beginning for Ink, and now our boldest work really begins – growing Ink. We’re pushing the boundaries of on-chain experiences to unlock new applications and opportunities for builders and users alike.”
Integration with Optimism Superchain
Ink operates as part of Optimism‘s Superchain ecosystem, which focuses on scaling Ethereum through interconnected Layer-2 chains. This integration allows Ink to benefit from the robust infrastructure of Optimism while contributing to the overall scalability of Ethereum.
Ryan Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at Optimism Unlimited, commented on the launch, saying: “Ink’s accelerated mainnet launch is a testament to the strength of the team, the resources dedicated to its success, and the developer community’s massive enthusiasm for the launch. As part of the Superchain, Ink will participate in Optimism governance, dedicate revenue back to the Collective, and support core development of the OP Stack.”
Future Prospects
Moving forward, Ink will progress toward Stage 1 decentralization with permissionless fault proofs in January 2025. This will enhance accountability and allow anyone to contest potentially invalid transactions, making Ink more accountable to its community of users.
The successful launch of Ink is expected to bring mutual benefits to both Kraken and Optimism, attracting more developers and users to the platform and driving further innovation within the decentralized application space.
