The blockchain ecosystem witnessed a significant infrastructure shift on December 19, 2023, as Lisk, one of the oldest blockchain platforms in the industry, announced its migration from an independent Layer 1 to an Ethereum Layer 2 network. The move, powered by Gelato’s Rollup-as-a-Service platform and Optimism’s OP Stack, marks the first time an established Layer 1 blockchain has committed to Optimism’s Superchain vision.
TL;DR
- Lisk announced migration from Layer 1 to Ethereum Layer 2 via Optimism’s OP Stack and Gelato’s RaaS platform
- Gelato expanded its Rollup-as-a-Service to support OP Stack alongside existing Polygon CDK support
- Lisk becomes the first Layer 1 blockchain to join the Optimism Superchain
- Gelato has already processed over one million transactions on OP Mainnet for projects like Synthetix, Lyra, and Velodrome
- Bitcoin traded at $42,270, Ethereum at $2,177 as the broader market rallied on ETF optimism
Lisk’s Historic Transition
Founded in 2016 as a delegated proof-of-stake blockchain, Lisk has been a fixture in the cryptocurrency space for nearly eight years. The decision to migrate to an Ethereum Layer 2 represents a fundamental shift in strategy, acknowledging the gravitational pull of Ethereum’s ecosystem and the growing dominance of Layer 2 scaling solutions.
The new Lisk network will be powered by the OP Stack, Optimism’s open-source modular framework for developing Layer 2 chains. Gelato’s Rollup-as-a-Service platform will handle deployment, hosting, and monitoring, while also providing native integrations with Web3 middleware services including automation, off-chain data computation, and Account Abstraction.
“Using Gelato’s Rollup as a Service Platform allows the Lisk research and development team to be primarily focused on building additional products and tooling that developers and end users love, while also committing resources to the Superchain’s development,” said Dominic Schwenter, Chief Project Officer at Lisk.
Gelato’s Expanding RaaS Empire
The announcement also marked a significant expansion for Gelato’s infrastructure platform. Previously supporting only Polygon CDK for custom chain deployment, Gelato now adds OP Stack to its repertoire, giving developers a choice between two of the most widely adopted Layer 2 frameworks in the industry.
Gelato’s track record on Optimism is already substantial. The platform has executed more than one million transactions on OP Mainnet for major DeFi protocols including Synthetix, Lyra, and Velodrome. This operational experience provides confidence that the infrastructure is production-ready for new entrants like Lisk.
Layer 2 chains deployed through Gelato receive more than just a blockchain. The platform provides out-of-the-box access to tier-one Web3 services including Etherscan, The Graph, LayerZero, and numerous others, creating a fully serviced development environment from the genesis block.
Optimism Foundation’s Endorsement
Ben Jones, Chief Scientist at the Optimism Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the development. “We are excited that Gelato has extended support to the Superchain as a RaaS provider for Lisk, making it easier for developers to onboard new users into the Superchain ecosystem,” Jones stated. The endorsement from Optimism’s leadership underscores the strategic importance of bringing established Layer 1 communities into the Superchain fold.
Market Context
The announcement came amid a broader rally in cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin traded at approximately $42,270, up 4.51% over 24 hours, while Ethereum sat at $2,177. The total crypto market capitalization stood at approximately $1.65 trillion with 24-hour volumes exceeding $65 billion. The positive market environment, driven primarily by spot Bitcoin ETF expectations, provided a favorable backdrop for infrastructure announcements.
The Layer 2 sector itself was experiencing significant growth, with funding particularly increasing in the Layer-1 and Layer-2 blockchain segments. Arbitrum, Optimism, and newer entrants like Base were attracting developer attention and capital at record levels.
Why This Matters
Lisk’s migration is more than a single project’s pivot. It signals a broader trend in the blockchain industry where the value proposition of running an independent Layer 1 is diminishing in favor of tapping into Ethereum’s deep liquidity, developer ecosystem, and user base. The Superchain vision, where thousands of interconnected Layer 2 chains share security and interoperability, is beginning to materialize. For developers, this means easier access to production-ready infrastructure. For users, it means more applications on faster, cheaper networks. And for the industry as a whole, it represents a maturation toward practical scaling rather than theoretical competition between isolated chains.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
lisk was my first crypto in 2017. wild to see them abandon their own chain after 7 years but probably the right call
chaindrifter_ Lisk was many peoples first crypto in 2017. abandoning your own chain after 7 years is humbling but pragmatic
First L1 to join the Superchain is a big deal whether people realize it or not. Opens the door for other legacy chains to migrate
gelato handling the infra so lisk can focus on dev tools makes sense. most L1s fail because they try to do everything themselves
AltcoinAlice said it first — this opens the door for other legacy chains. lisk being first to Superchain is bigger than most realize. if eos or ontology follow the same playbook the L1-to-L2 migration trend becomes the dominant infrastructure narrative of 2024
AltcoinAlice if Lisk succeeds on OP Stack expect other legacy L1s to follow. nobody wants to maintain their own consensus layer anymore
AltcoinAlice called this in 2023. eos and ontology shouldve taken the same deal instead of bleeding out for years on ghost chains
synthetix lyra velodrome all on gelato already processing millions of txs. the stack is battle tested at this point
gelato processing millions of txs. the superchain approach is actually working
gelato already processed 1M+ transactions for synthetix, lyra, and velodrome before the lisk announcement. that operational track record is what makes this migration credible. lisk isn’t betting on unproven tech — they’re joining a working stack with real volume
gelato processing 1M+ txs for synthetix and lyra before lisk even showed up. the RaaS model works because they handle the boring infra so chains can focus on users
lisk moving to L2 shows how expensive maintaining your own chain really is
legacy_chain is right that this proves the cost of maintaining an independent L1. lisk had 7 years of delegate registration, custom SDKs, and a community built around their own chain. migrating to OP Stack means all of that becomes legacy. the interoperability gains are real but the identity loss is brutal
lisk at $42k BTC era migrating to ETH L2. imagine telling someone in 2017 that their favorite L1 would become an Ethereum rollup lol
lisk running on ethereum L2 after years of being its own chain. the interoperability payoff is worth the migration pain but the community split is real
Gelato expanding OP Stack infrastructure while lisk migrates. the modular thesis is playing out exactly as predicted in 2023