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.
been holding LSK since the 2016 ICO. watching it go from independent L1 to OP stack L2 is bittersweet but honestly the right call. the L1 thesis is dead for most chains
First L1 joining the Optimism Superchain is a milestone. Gelato handling a million tx on OP mainnet for Synthetix and Velodrome proves the RaaS model works.
Gelato supporting both OP Stack and Polygon CDK means they are positioning as chain-agnostic infra. Smart play when L2 fragmentation is the meta.
8 years as a dPoS chain and now migrating to ethereum L2. the gravitational pull of eth settlement is just too strong for smaller chains to resist
account abstraction built into the RaaS platform is the detail everyone skips. devs get AA, automation, and off-chain compute out of the box. no more stitching middleware together