Optimism Plans To Unlock Superchain Interoperability Next Year

The launch of native Superchain interoperability is designed to make transacting across ecosystem networks feel like using a single chain.

Optimism plans to introduce native interoperability for Superchain networks next year.

On Aug. 12, Optimism unveiled its Superchain interoperability roadmap, which the team aims to roll out in 2025. In addition to facilitating frictionless cross-chain transfers, Optimism will introduce universal token standards such as the SuperchainERC20 to ensure fungibility across ecosystem chains.

Optimism described the current process for transacting across networks within the Superchain as “expensive and slow” due to the ecosystem’s reliance on Layer 1 Ethereum for cross-chain communication and asset transfers. By contrast, native interoperability strives to make using multiple networks within the Superchain feel like transacting on a single blockchain.

“We’re setting out to build a unified Superchain where users, assets, and developers move seamlessly across the network,” Optimism said. “By bringing native Interoperability to the OP Stack and leveraging the use of open source standard interfaces, we aim to enhance UX in the Ethereum ecosystem.”

Native interoperability will first go live on devnet before progressing to a testnet launch followed by its mainnet deployment. Optimism also hopes to enable interoperability between Superchain-based dApps in the future.

Superchain

Optimism’s Superchain seeks to establish an interconnected and interoperable ecosystem of networks built leveraging the OP Stack.

The Superchain ecosystem currently spans OP Mainnet, Base, Fraxtal, Metal, Mode, Redstone, Worldcoin, and Zora. Superchain networks host $14.8 billion worth of assets combined and process 4.5 million transactions daily.

“Interoperability will make [Superchain] the largest liquidity layer for developers after L1,” Optimism said.

Optimism is not alone in seeking to foster an interconnected ecosystem of Layer 2 networks, with ZkSync striving to establish the Elastic Chain of ZK Stack-base networks, and Polygon building its AggLayer.

Optimism acknowledged the increasing liquidity fragmentation and user-experience challenges associated with Ethereum’s expanding Layer 2 ecosystem among the motivations fueling its Superchain endeavor.

“Ethereum should evolve to a point where users can focus on their tasks without worrying about which chain they are on,” Optimism said. “When using a web2 application, users don’t think about which cloud provider they are using; they just use the app… The Superchain needs to feel like one chain.”

The price of Optimism’s OP token is up 3.2% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.