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What is the Superchain?

The Superchain is a network of L2 chains (OP Chains) that share security, a communication layer, and an open-source technology stack. It aims to create a unified, scalable blockchain ecosystem on Ethereum, enabling developers to build applications that abstract away underlying chains.

Overview

The Superchain concept represents the next major scalability improvement to the OP Stack after Bedrock. It merges OP Mainnet and other chains into a single unified network of OP Chains, marking a significant step towards bringing scalable and decentralized compute to the world.

Benefits

  • Scalability: Enables horizontal scaling through multiple interconnected chains
  • Unification: Creates a seamless multi-chain ecosystem with shared properties
  • Standardization: Allows chains to be treated as interchangeable compute resources
  • Security: Leverages Ethereum's security model across all OP Chains
  • Flexibility: Supports various chain configurations while maintaining standardization

Key Features

Shared L1 Blockchain

Provides a total ordering of transactions across all OP Chains

Shared Bridge

Enables standardized security properties for all OP Chains

Cheap OP Chain Deployment

Allows deploying and transacting on OP Chains without high L1 fees

Configurable OP Chains

Enables customization of data availability providers, sequencer addresses, and more

Secure Cross-Chain Interactions

Facilitates safe state migration between OP Chains

Vision

The Superchain aims to realize the vision of a truly scalable blockchain ecosystem, enabling developers to build applications without worrying about underlying infrastructure while maintaining the security and decentralization principles of Ethereum.

Learn more at Optimism Documentation