Swell Switches to Optimism’s Superchain for Rollup Development

Swell Moves to Optimism’s Superchain Ecosystem

Swell, the liquid restaking protocol, has announced a strategic shift in its Layer 2 development approach by transitioning from Polygon’s chain development kit (CDK) to Optimism’s Superchain ecosystem. This change reflects Swell's ambition to leverage the Superchain's optimistic rollup technology to improve scalability and efficiency for decentralized applications.

Collaborating with OP Labs on a New Optimistic Rollup

Swell’s collaboration with OP Labs marks its entry into the Superchain ecosystem, which includes projects like Coinbase’s Base and Kraken’s Ink. This ecosystem of Layer 2 rollups, governed by the Optimism Collective, aims to reduce transaction costs while enhancing Ethereum-based applications. As Swell’s OP chain development progresses, a test network is expected soon.

ETH as the Gas Token and Revenue Sharing

In its OP Stack design, Swell will use ETH as the gas token—replacing its previous plan to use rswETH (Swell’s restaked ETH token). Additionally, Swell will allocate a portion of sequencer revenue to the Optimism Collective, aligning with revenue-sharing structures followed by other Superchain ecosystem participants.

Enhancing Security with Proof of Restake

Swell is implementing a unique security model called "proof of restake." This model reinforces Swell’s Layer 2 with a yield-focused restaking feature, designed to bring both security and added value to the Superchain ecosystem. As the restaking yield layer, Swell aims to set new standards for Layer 2 security and incentivization.

Strategic Benefits and Future Prospects

In migrating to Optimism’s OP Stack, Swell may qualify for grants from the Optimism Foundation, following in the footsteps of other Superchain projects like Kraken’s Ink. Swell’s pivot demonstrates its ongoing commitment to optimizing its restaking solutions while contributing to Ethereum's broader ecosystem.

Conclusion

Swell’s switch to the Optimism Superchain for Layer 2 development signifies a strategic alignment with a powerful ecosystem of Ethereum rollups. With its new focus on proof of restake and community-driven incentives, Swell is poised to become a key player in Optimism's mission to scale Ethereum’s capabilities for decentralized applications.