Ink
Kraken's Ethereum L2, built on the OP Stack with a DeFi-first Superchain positioning.
Ink is an optimistic rollup built by Kraken on the OP Stack, part of the Optimism Superchain. It launched in December 2024 with permissionless fault proofs and was the first Superchain network to run multiple fault-proof challengers (Kraken and Gelato). It reached Stage 1 in January 2025 and integrates directly with Kraken exchange for one-click deposits and withdrawals.
- TVL around $620M as of late May 2026 per DeFiLlama; grew from ~$7M at launch to over $450M within a few months.
- OP Stack optimistic rollup on the Optimism Superchain; ~1s block times, sub-cent fees, ETH as gas.
- Stage 1 rollup with permissionless fault proofs and multiple challengers (Kraken and Gelato) — a Superchain first.
- Native INK token (1B supply) is a utility token for ecosystem incentives, not L2 governance; TGE targeted 2026.
- Direct integration with Kraken exchange enables zero-fee ETH withdrawals from Kraken accounts to Ink.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs Ink and how decentralized is it?
Kraken operates the sequencer, but the fault-proof system is permissionless and multiple parties (currently Kraken and Gelato) run challengers. L2BEAT rates it Stage 1, meaning users can exit trustlessly and challenge invalid states without permission — better than most enterprise-launched L2s at their launch.
Does Ink have a token?
The INK token is a utility token from the independent Ink Foundation with a 1B fixed supply, distributed via Kraken Drops and an airdrop. It is not a governance token for the L2 itself. TGE has been targeted for 2026.
How is Ink different from Base?
Both are OP Stack L2s backed by major exchanges. Base is bigger, older, and more established. Ink is smaller and DeFi-oriented, with tighter Kraken exchange integration for onramps and a more decentralized proof system at launch (multiple challengers versus Base's single one).