Kraken exchange, Ethereum $3,870.3 launched a Layer-2 blockchain called Ink on its mainnet. While this launch was originally planned for early 2025, it was made early. Developed using Optimism’s OP Stack (code library), Ink aims to provide increased scalability and interoperability within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Ink Blockchain
Kraken launched its Ink Layer-2 network on Wednesday, pushing up its blockchain rollout by several months, according to its blog post. The network is built on Optimism’s OP Stack, a modular framework designed to increase Ethereum’s scalability and interoperability.
Kraken received a grant from the Optimism Foundation, which includes approximately $58 million in OP tokens. These tokens support the adoption and growth of Ink, enabling the platform to contribute to Optimism’s broad “Superchain” ecosystem.
Key Partnerships and Features
Ink Layer-2 launched with support from various decentralized applications, including Curve decentralized exchange, Frax stablecoin platform, LayerZero for interoperability, and Gelato for infrastructure support. These collaborations demonstrate the ecosystem’s focus on enabling a variety of use cases within decentralized finance (DeFi).
“Today is just the beginning for Ink, and now we begin our boldest work: growing Ink. “We are pushing the boundaries of on-chain experiences, adding privacy, security and user experience improvements on top of a foundation of deep liquidity to open up new applications and opportunities for developers and users.” – Andrew Koller, Founder of Ink
By January 2025, permissionless bug proofs are planned to be available in Kraken’s Ink Layer-2. This feature will increase the platform’s accountability by allowing anyone to dispute potentially invalid transactions.
Kraken’s Ink Layer-2 is one of the latest additions to Ethereum scaling solutions built on OP Stack. Projects joining networks such as Coinbase’s Base and Sony’s Soneium show the trend of major players expanding the Ethereum ecosystem.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing Kraken vs. SEC case, the court ruled that crypto exchange Bitcoin 
$104,049.2declined a request to request documents related to SEC policies on Ether and digital assets. The judge stated that the demands were unrelated to the SEC’s allegations regarding specific crypto tokens.
The launch of Kraken Ink Layer-2 on the Ethereum mainnet reveals where we are headed in the multi-chain world. The strengthening competitive environment may stifle unpopular layer2 and layer3 solutions.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should carry out their transactions in line with their own research.
