The rise of modular blockchain infrastructure has ushered in a new era of scalable, interoperable, and application-specific blockchains. At the forefront of this movement is OP Stack, the open-source framework behind Optimism’s Layer 2 (L2) technology. Originally developed to scale Ethereum, OP Stack has evolved into a foundational toolkit enabling projects across ecosystems to launch customized rollups—ushering in what many call the “Superchain” vision.
This modular, EVM-compatible framework allows teams to build secure, low-cost, and high-performance chains with minimal development overhead. As a result, an increasing number of high-profile projects—from NFT platforms and identity protocols to major blockchains like BNB Chain—are adopting OP Stack to future-proof their infrastructure.
But what makes OP Stack so compelling? And which key players are shaping its growing ecosystem?
Why OP Stack Is Gaining Momentum
At its core, OP Stack offers a modular, battle-tested framework for launching optimistic rollups. It enables developers to create chains that inherit Ethereum’s security while achieving significantly lower transaction fees and faster processing speeds.
One of the most significant upgrades to OP Stack was the Bedrock upgrade, launched in June 2023. This overhaul reduced transaction costs by up to 50%, cut deposit times, and improved overall network efficiency. With average gas fees dropping by approximately 75%, Optimism became one of the most cost-effective L2 solutions for token swaps and general smart contract execution.
Moreover, OP Stack is designed for flexibility. Teams can customize components such as:
- Execution layer (EVM or alternative)
- Data availability (DA) layer
- Fault proof system (e.g., Cannon)
- Settlement layer
This "Lego-like" architecture allows projects to tailor their chains without reinventing the wheel—accelerating time-to-market and reducing technical debt.
👉 Discover how building on scalable blockchain infrastructure can transform your project
Key Projects Leveraging OP Stack
Zora Network: Empowering NFT Creators
Zora, a leading NFT marketplace, launched Zora Network, a Layer 2 built on OP Stack, to provide creators with a low-cost, high-speed environment for minting and trading digital assets.
By leveraging OP Stack, Zora reduced minting costs to under $3—making it far more affordable than Ethereum mainnet. The platform also enables seamless integration with existing tools and dApps, allowing over 35 ecosystem partners—including Sound.xyz, Rainbow Wallet, Seed Club, and PleasrDAO—to migrate smoothly.
Zora Engineering highlighted a key benefit: “The combined cost of bridging to L2 and minting is less than a single mint on Ethereum.”
Since launch, Zora Network has seen:
- Over 38,000 bridge addresses
- $700,000 in total value locked (TVL)
- 130,000+ users brought into the Superchain ecosystem
This strategic move positions Zora as a central hub for on-chain media and digital culture.
opBNB: BNB Chain’s High-Speed Layer 2
In a surprising but strategic shift, BNB Chain—a top-tier EVM-compatible blockchain—launched opBNB, a Layer 2 testnet built on OP Stack, on June 19, 2023.
Despite being a competitor to Ethereum in many aspects, BNB Chain adopted OP Stack to address growing congestion and high gas fees caused by GameFi and DeFi activity.
opBNB delivers impressive performance metrics:
- Block time: 1 second
- TPS: Over 4,000 (nearly double BNB Smart Chain)
- Gas cost: As low as $0.005 per transaction
Unlike its earlier zkBNB solution—which lacked EVM compatibility—opBNB supports full EVM equivalence, enabling easy migration of Ethereum-based dApps.
Crucially, opBNB runs on top of BSC (Binance Smart Chain), not Ethereum. This means it inherits BSC’s speed while benefiting from rollup economics. Additionally, BNB remains the gas token, preserving economic value accrual within the BNB ecosystem.
This hybrid approach could position opBNB as a strong contender in the broader L2 landscape.
Base: Coinbase’s Developer-Focused L2
Launched in February 2023 by Coinbase, Base is one of the earliest and most influential adopters of OP Stack outside the Optimism team itself.
As a U.S.-based regulated exchange with over 110 million users, Coinbase’s decision to build on OP Stack signals strong confidence in the Superchain vision.
Base offers:
- Low-cost transactions
- Full EVM compatibility
- Seamless onboarding for Coinbase’s massive user base
- Native integration with Coinbase Wallet and apps
Rather than building a proprietary chain, Coinbase chose OP Stack for its modularity, security, and alignment with Ethereum’s roadmap—including upcoming upgrades like EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding).
Base doesn’t target end users directly; instead, it focuses on empowering developers. Since launch, it has partnered with major Web3 tools like Chainlink, The Graph, Dune Analytics, and Sushiswap.
To foster growth, Base has hosted global hackathons with organizations like Developer DAO and thirdweb—fueling innovation across DeFi, social, and gaming sectors.
👉 Learn how top-tier platforms are using rollup technology to scale securely
Worldcoin: Identity Meets Scalability
Worldcoin, the identity protocol co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is migrating its ecosystem—including World ID and World App—to Optimism’s mainnet using OP Stack.
This move addresses two critical needs:
- Scalability: Their previous solution on Polygon struggled with demand.
- Privacy-Preserving Identity: World ID uses biometric verification (iris scanning) to ensure unique human participation while protecting user privacy via zero-knowledge proofs.
By launching on OP Stack, Worldcoin gains:
- Ultra-low transaction costs for identity claims
- High throughput for mass adoption
- Compatibility with Ethereum’s growing identity primitives like AttestationStation
With over 1.7 million registered users, Worldcoin brings massive potential user growth to the Superchain. Its integration strengthens Optimism’s “Citizens’ House” governance model by adding verifiable identity layers crucial for fair voting and anti-sybil mechanisms.
Early signs of migration include the deployment of ~300,000 Gnosis Safe contracts on Optimism—confirmed by Worldcoin developer Tiago Sada as part of their transition process.
Magi: a16z’s Rust-Based Rollup Client
In April 2023, crypto arm of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) unveiled Magi, a new consensus client for OP Stack written in Rust.
Magi aims to:
- Improve client diversity (reducing reliance on Go-based
op-node) - Enhance network resilience
- Encourage open-source contributions
As a major investor in Optimism and Web3 overall—with over $7.6 billion allocated—this move marks a16z’s transition from passive backer to active builder.
Magi works alongside execution clients like op-geth and synchronizes with any OP Stack chain, making it a critical piece of infrastructure for long-term decentralization.
On-Chain Gaming: OPCraft, Keystone & Loot Chain
High-frequency interactions make gaming one of the most demanding use cases for blockchains. OP Stack has become a preferred choice for on-chain game developers due to its balance of speed, cost, and security.
Notable examples include:
- OPCraft: A fully on-chain voxel world where every action is a transaction. Built on OP Stack for scalability.
- Keystone: Uses custom precompiles to speed up game loops by up to 100x.
- Loot Chain: A new L2 for the Loot ecosystem using OP Stack and Polygon for data availability. Will use AGLD as gas token.
These projects demonstrate how OP Stack enables domain-specific customization—especially vital for real-time gameplay and persistent game states.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is OP Stack?
A: OP Stack is an open-source framework developed by Optimism for building optimistic rollups. It allows teams to launch customizable Layer 2 chains that inherit Ethereum’s security while offering lower fees and higher throughput.
Q: Is OP Stack only for Ethereum projects?
A: No. While designed for Ethereum scaling, OP Stack is modular enough to be used by non-Ethereum chains like BNB Chain (opBNB). These chains can still benefit from rollup technology while maintaining their own token economics.
Q: What does “Superchain” mean?
A: The Superchain is a vision where multiple chains built on OP Stack interoperate seamlessly—sharing codebases, liquidity, and security—while preserving sovereignty through decentralized governance.
Q: How does OP Stack reduce costs?
A: By batching transactions off-chain and posting compressed data to Ethereum (L1), OP Stack drastically reduces gas fees—often by over 90% compared to mainnet.
Q: Can I use my own token as gas on an OP Stack chain?
A: Yes. One of OP Stack’s key advantages is flexibility in gas token selection. Chains like opBNB use BNB; Loot Chain will use AGLD.
Q: What role does EIP-4844 play in OP Stack’s future?
A: EIP-4844 introduces proto-danksharding, which adds blob-carrying transactions to Ethereum. This will further reduce rollup costs by improving data availability efficiency—an upgrade fully compatible with future versions of OP Stack.
The adoption of OP Stack by diverse projects—from NFT platforms and exchanges to identity protocols and gaming studios—signals a pivotal shift in blockchain development. Rather than reinventing consensus mechanisms or security models, teams are choosing composable, secure foundations that accelerate innovation.
With giants like Coinbase, BNB Chain, and Worldcoin onboard—and thousands of developers building atop it—the Superchain is no longer just a vision. It’s becoming the backbone of Web3’s next phase.