Uniswap Labs, the primary developer behind one of the largest decentralized exchanges (DEX), Uniswap, has announced the launch of its much-anticipated layer-2 network, Unichain. This significant development is set to enhance user experience and create new revenue opportunities in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape.
Powered by Optimism’s OP stack, Unichain delivers faster and cheaper transactions than Ethereum’s mainnet, making it attractive for developers looking to deploy apps specifically tailored for DeFi. Uniswap Labs describes Unichain as “the home for liquidity across chains,” highlighting its role within the broader ecosystem.
The launch of this layer-2 network presents a dual advantage for Uniswap Labs: it enhances user experience for Uniswap and similar platforms while also establishing a new revenue stream derived from network fees. According to a representative from Uniswap Labs, the company intends to retain approximately 20% of Unichain’s revenue.
Having undergone testing since October 2024, Unichain is classified as a “stage-1” rollup, which indicates a balance of decentralization and centralized control at this initial phase. The network leverages the OP Stack, a modular framework that enables developers to create interoperable layer-2 chains based on Optimism’s optimistic rollup technology.
Distinctive Aspects of Unichain
The surge of layer-2 solutions in recent years has prompted Uniswap co-founder Hayden Adams to assert that many of these chains will cater to specific use cases rather than emerge as general-use blockchains. Adams anticipates a plethora of specialized applications, where trading will represent just a small segment.
In partnership with Ethereum R&D firm Flashbots, Uniswap has developed a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) on Unichain. This secure area is designed for more sensitive transactions, enhancing security and transaction finality in the DeFi context.
Adams expressed the vision for Unichain: “We want Unichain to excel in liquidity creation, trading, and supporting applications that rely on or require access to liquidity. By doing so, we create a cohesive environment for various DeFi applications.”
Integration with the Optimism Ecosystem
As part of its integration into Optimism’s “Superchain” ecosystem, Uniswap Labs has committed to contributing 2.5% of Unichain’s gross revenue—or 15% of net revenue, whichever is larger—to the Optimism Collective. This consortium manages Optimism’s rollup technology and functions to bolster R&D within the ecosystem.
Notably, other prominent chains in this ecosystem, including Coinbase and Kraken, have entered similar agreements, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of Optimism’s development framework. In exchange for their integration, these companies have received grants of Optimism’s governance tokens—Coinbase up to 118 million OP tokens and Kraken 25 million OP tokens.
As Unichain’s mainnet launch approached, Uniswap Labs revealed that 65% of its net revenue would be allocated to the Unichain Validation Network (UVN). This network of validators and stakers will enhance the security and transparency of the blockchain.
Adams noted the importance of decentralization, stating that unlike other projects with more centralized sequencers, Uniswap is focused on diminishing the power of sequencers by creating a more balanced framework.
To learn more about this development, you can read the full article from CoinDesk here.
