Ink, the L2 Blockchain Solution From Kraken, Went Live on Mainnet Today

This launch took place dramatically ahead of schedule, citing strong support and enthusiasm from the crypto community.

Kraken's Optimism-powered L2 blockchain solution, Ink, went live on mainnet today, dramatically ahead of schedule.

The launch comes after millions of testnet transactions and connected wallets, highlighting strong demand. Ink was initially expected to launch in 2025, but the exchange pushed up the launch date due to the hype. The network will now progress toward Stage 1 decentralization with permissionless fault proofs in January.

“Today is just the beginning for Ink, and now our boldest work really begins – growing Ink. We're pushing the boundaries of onchain experiences to unlock new applications and opportunities for builders and users alike. Thank you to the earliest supporters of Ink who have been overwhelmingly positive. We're Inking the future together,” Andrew Koller, founder of Ink, told BeInCrypto.

According to public statements, “demand from builders and support from the community” helped spur this speedy launch. Ink will now focus on decentralization and interoperability moving forward.

Kraken has faced a few setbacks in the past month, including an $8 million fine in Australia and a shuttered NFT marketplace. However, Ink is off to a positive start.

Kraken built Ink as an L2 on the Optimism Superchain, and representatives from Optimism also commented on the launch today.

The company said that Ink quickly grew to over 100,000 users after its first announcement, and its testnet also saw high levels of activity and hype.

“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. We look forward to working together to attract developers and users to Ink as we bring Ethereum to scale,” said Ryan Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at Optimism Unlimited.

Meanwhile, Optimism also faced a few challenges before the mainnet launch. In October, the scaling solution ecosystem was under pressure, and the chain's OP token suffered from price shocks. The ongoing crypto bull market did little to help the token's value, as it had one of the worst performances this year.

However, a high-performing Ink launch could significantly bolster Optimism in the long-term.

Moving forward, Ink will be deeply integrated with the Optimism Superchain. In exclusive comments to BeInCrypto, Wyatt said that Ink will “participate in Optimism governance, dedicate revenue back to the Collective, and support core development of the OP Stack.” From these statements, both firms seemingly expect an extended and fruitful partnership.