What are OP Stack and Superchain?

OP Stack is an open-source solution that plays a key role in the Optimism infrastructure. OP Stack aims to provide the necessary infrastructure to develop an interoperable roll-up ecosystem called Superchain. Superchain is designed to enable interoperability and transactions between different Layer 2 networks.

Advantages of Superchain Ecosystem Built on OP Stack

• Efficiency, simplicity, and scalability: running your Layer 2 blockchain can be done in one click, and open source allows everyone to contribute to the development of the Superchain;

• Interoperability: OP Stack-based Layer 2s can easily interoperate with each other;

• Security: guaranteed by Ethereum.

That is, the key difference from Arbitrum Orbit is that the Superchain system builds horizontal Layer 2 blockchains rather than Layer 3. There are already quite a few such networks based on OP Stack: Optimism, Base, Zora, opBNB, Public Goods Network, DeBank, Aevo, and others.

Financial Impact: Contributions from OP Stack's Collaborations

Another important detail of OP Stack's work is the revenue Optimism generated by implementing their solution in other Layer 2s. So far, only the collaboration model of Optimism and Base is publicly known. Base shares either 15% of the total revenue generated or 2.5% of the total transaction processing revenue — whichever is greater — with Optimism Collective. All of this revenue goes into the Optimism Foundation Treasury. The OP holders are responsible for managing it.

Based on the operating model of OP Stack at Base, it can be calculated that in the last 3 months, Base, Zora, and Public Goods Network have brought almost 450 ETH into the Optimism treasury.

Disadvantages of OP Stack

OP Stack is currently the leader among its competitors regarding integrations and revenue. However, it also has its weaknesses:

• Long withdrawal time: you have to wait for proof at the underlying blockchain level;

• Low privacy;

• Excessive centralization: there is currently only one sequencer processing transactions.

The Optimism team is actively working to solve these problems, with Espresso already offering its own sequencer for OP Stack blockchains.

Conclusion

OP Stack was the first to pave the way for the affordable creation of custom roll-ups. As the ecosystem grows, deploying new roll-ups will become as easy as deploying smart contracts. Will OP Stack remain a leader in this sector? We’ll just have to see.