Optimism to Add Custom Gas Tokens and Plasma Mode for Layer 2 Builders on the Superchain

Optimism is welcoming layer 3 builders to its Superchain initiative, with plans to introduce custom gas tokens and data availability layer optionality so developers can spin up low cost chains.

Ethereum scaling solution Optimism aims to create the ideal environment for layer 3 blockchains to build on its network of networks, otherwise known as the Superchain.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the Optimism team said layer 3 developers could also leverage its OP Stack codebase and contribute a part of the revenue earned back to the Optimism Collective.

🔴 Welcoming L3s to the Superchain!

L3s can join the Superchain by building on the OP Stack and sharing revenue with the Collective.

Benefits include:

– Accessing a broad network of Superchain builders
– Eligibilities for Retro Funding, airdrops, growth campaigns, and more pic.twitter.com/0WgLtRgUDr

— Optimism (@Optimism) May 8, 2024

“Chains that have committed to the Superchain not only have access to a values-aligned network of builders, but they’re also able to tap into a wide variety of benefits, including eligibility for Retro Funding, Airdrops, and Superchain developer grant programs,” said Optimism.

In order to encourage these layer 3 builders to join the ecosystem, Optimism plans to roll out two features highly coveted by developers – custom tokens and an alternative data availability protocol Plasma Mode.

Custom gas tokens would allow developers to use layer 2 tokens as their native gas tokens on layer 3 blockchains, making it easier to move its existing community of users over to the new network and also lowering the onboarding costs for new users. 

Meanwhile, Optimism expects that Plasma Mode will be a “key building block for developers spinning up low-cost chains.” OP Stack chains will have to post data commitments and output roots to their settlement layer. Seeing as layer 3 networks will only have to submit transactions to the underlying layer 2 network, their overhead costs will be significantly lower.

“The goal of Plasma Mode is to allow anyone to deploy an OP Stack Chain with the data availability layer of their choosing, sustainably reducing transaction costs while minimizing security tradeoffs,” said Optimism. 

Blockchain infrastructure and rollup-as-a-service firms like Syndicate, Caldera, Gelato Network, Chaindrop, Zeeve, and Conduit have already indicated they intend to grow the layer 3 ecosystem on the Superchain.

The rise of layer 2 networks was one of the key themes in the crypto space last year, but as blockchain interoperability and scalability come into even bigger focus, layer 3 networks might start to see some time in the spotlight. 

However, not everyone is enthusiastic about these new networks, with some industry watchers saying the existence of layer 3 blockchains detract value from Ethereum.