Upbit’s GIWA Chain Says a Mainnet RPC Leak Is Impossible — Because the Mainnet Does Not Exist Yet

GIWA, the Upbit-backed Ethereum Layer 2 network, has publicly rejected claims that its mainnet RPC endpoint was leaked — pointing out the somewhat unarguable fact that its mainnet has not launched.

By Keisha Williams | September 27, 2026

The Hook: Debunking a Leak of Something That Isn’t Live

The project posted on X on Sept. 27 that a mainnet RPC leak was impossible because no mainnet has gone live, urging users to do their own research and stay alert to false information and scams circulating ahead of launch. The statement followed social-media claims involving what was described as a leaked mainnet RPC — the server address developers use to connect to a blockchain network.

GIWA’s own documentation backs the denial. The project’s connection guide lists only GIWA Sepolia testnet endpoints, while the mainnet section is marked as under development. The same distinction appears across its smart contract pages and Flashblocks documentation: a working testnet endpoint exists, and the corresponding mainnet endpoint is labeled “Coming soon.”

No evidence provided by GIWA indicates its Sepolia testnet RPC was compromised. The response specifically addresses claims about the unlaunched mainnet.

Why This Matters: Pre-Launch FUD Is a Scam Vector

To a casual reader, a leak denial might look like routine housekeeping. It is not. Fake “RPC leaks,” phantom token claims and impersonation accounts are standard tools in the pre-launch scam toolkit — the goal is to trick users into connecting wallets to malicious endpoints or buying counterfeit tokens before the real product exists.

GIWA did not identify the accounts behind the original claims, which is itself typical: rumors of this kind spread through reposts and screenshots rather than attributable sources. The project’s decision to respond publicly, and to anchor the rebuttal in verifiable documentation rather than assurances, is the correct playbook.

What GIWA Actually Is: Upbit’s Own Chain

The background makes the story more interesting than a simple denial. GIWA is an Ethereum Layer 2 — a network built on top of Ethereum that handles transactions faster and cheaper, then settles final balances back on Ethereum itself, like an express lane that periodically reconciles with the main highway.

It is built with the OP Stack, the open-source framework maintained in the Optimism ecosystem. Its documentation describes a one-second block time and compatibility with familiar Ethereum development tools — developers can deploy Solidity contracts using Foundry, Hardhat or Remix. The design specifies a 60 million block gas limit, with a sequencer responsible for ordering transactions while Ethereum provides the settlement layer underneath.

The operator behind it is the key detail: Upbit, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges by volume, partnered with Optimism to build GIWA under the Self Managed OP Enterprise tier. That arrangement lets Upbit run its own infrastructure — including sequencer control, meaning responsibility for ordering transactions — while receiving technical support and failover services from Optimism. It is part of a broader push by Upbit’s operator Dunamu to expand beyond centralized exchange trading.

What Is Still Missing: Wallet, Stablecoins, Mainnet

Investors should be clear about how early this project is. GIWA’s website lists both the GIWA Wallet and its planned stablecoin ecosystem as “Coming Soon.”

• GIWA Wallet is described as a self-custody product for GIWA Chain with multichain support and integrated views of exchange assets.
• The stablecoin ecosystem is intended to support payments in Korean won and global stablecoins, including a Paymaster system that could let stablecoins cover transaction fees.
• No native token is currently advertised. GIWA’s FAQ says ETH is used as the base asset and for fees — meaning any token claiming to be GIWA’s official coin right now is, by definition, fake.
• Developers are directed to the Sepolia testnet, with test ETH available through a faucet.

What This Means for You

The practical takeaway is simple: until an official mainnet launch is announced through GIWA’s verified channels, any leak story, token sale, airdrop claim or wallet connection request tied to GIWA should be treated as fraudulent by default. The project’s own FAQ — ETH for fees, no native token — gives you a concrete checklist to verify against.

The bigger-picture angle is worth watching too. A top global exchange building its own Layer 2 with sequencer control is a meaningful shift: it moves a chunk of the exchange’s future activity onto infrastructure it operates directly, positioned between decentralized rails and the centralized business users actually touch. Whether that hybrid model delivers on its promises will only become clear after launch.

The Verdict

GIWA’s denial is unusually airtight — you cannot leak an endpoint that was never online. But the episode is a useful preview of the environment every major launch now faces: rumors first, scams second, official clarifications third. For now, the mainnet remains under development, the wallet remains unreleased, and patience remains the only defensible position.

The cryptocurrency market remains highly volatile. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.