Ronin Network Selects Optimism's OP Stack for Ethereum L2 Transition, Targeting 15x Faster Transactions

Ronin Network, a prominent blockchain for NFTs and gaming, has officially chosen Optimism's OP Stack to facilitate its transition into an Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) solution. This strategic move, finalized following a vote by Ronin's Governing Validators last week, aims to significantly enhance scalability, security, and developer support within the network. Optimism announced the development on social media, stating, > "📢 @Ronin_Network is coming home to Ethereum, choosing Optimism’s OP Stack to build Ethereum’s gamification engine. A win for builders and players everywhere."

Ronin Network was initially launched as a sidechain to circumvent Ethereum's high transaction fees and slow speeds during the peak of Axie Infinity's popularity. However, the network faced a significant security breach in 2022, suffering a $620 million hack that underscored the need for a more robust and secure infrastructure. This "homecoming" aligns Ronin with Ethereum's improved scaling capabilities and enhanced security model.

The integration with Optimism's OP Stack is expected to bring substantial technical improvements, including transaction speeds up to 15 times faster, with block times projected to be between 100-200 milliseconds. This upgrade could enable the network to handle nearly 1 million transfers per second, significantly reducing latency for users. Furthermore, Ronin will inherit Ethereum's resilient security framework, bolstering its infrastructure and reducing the risk of future exploits.

Beyond technical enhancements, the transition broadens support for Ronin's developer ecosystem. Builders will gain access to allocations from Optimism’s 850 million $OP Retro Fund, alongside an estimated $5-7 million in milestone grants. This financial incentive and expanded resource pool are designed to foster innovation and attract new projects, propelling Ronin beyond its gaming-centric origins into a broader "gamification engine" for the Ethereum ecosystem.

Ronin's vision extends to supporting gamified decentralized finance (DeFi), SocialFi applications, tokenized collectibles, and consumer AI experiences. The network is also revamping its tokenomics with a "Proof-of-Distribution" model, which aims to reallocate $RON staking rewards to active builders and contributors, fostering long-term growth. The full transition to an Ethereum L2 is anticipated to be completed by Q1-Q2 2026, positioning Ronin within the interconnected Superchain ecosystem alongside platforms like Coinbase's Base and Uniswap.