Today, Ink, a Layer 2 blockchain solution from Kraken powered by Optimism, officially launched on the mainnet. This happened ahead of schedule, thanks to the strong support from the crypto community. Both Ink and Optimism are excited about the collaboration that this enthusiasm brings.
“Today is just the beginning for Ink. Our boldest work really starts now – growing Ink,” said Andrew Koller, the founder of Ink. “We’re here to push the boundaries of on-chain experiences. We want to unlock new applications and opportunities for builders and users alike. A big thank you to our earliest supporters for their overwhelmingly positive feedback. Together, we’re Inking the future.”
According to public statements, “demand from builders and community support” helped speed up this launch. As Ink moves forward, it plans to focus on decentralization and interoperability. Recently, Kraken faced some challenges, including an $8 million fine in Australia and the closing of its NFT marketplace. However, the outlook for Ink remains positive.
Kraken developed Ink as an L2 on the Optimism Superchain. Optimism representatives also commented on the launch, noting that Ink quickly gained over 100,000 users after its first announcement. The testnet showed significant activity and excitement.
“Ink’s fast mainnet launch shows the strength of the team and the resources dedicated to its success. It also highlights the developer community’s enthusiasm. As part of the Superchain, Ink will work with Optimism. We’re looking forward to attracting developers and users to Ink while scaling Ethereum,” said Ryan Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at Optimism Unlimited.
Before the mainnet launch, Optimism faced its own challenges. In October, the scaling solution ecosystem was under pressure, and the OP token experienced price fluctuations. The ongoing crypto bull market didn’t significantly boost the token’s value, which has been underwhelming this year.
However, a successful launch for Ink could greatly benefit Optimism in the long run. Ink will be closely integrated with the Optimism Superchain moving forward. In exclusive comments, Wyatt stated that Ink will “participate in Optimism governance, allocate revenue back to the Collective, and support the core development of the OP Stack.” Both companies seem to expect a long and fruitful partnership.