Optimism’s grand experiment in Layer 2 economics has always rested on a simple premise: if you build on our stack, you pay rent. The OP Stack’s revenue-sharing framework, known as the Law of Chains, requires participating Superchain members to contribute the greater of 2.5% of their sequencer revenue or 15% of net sequencer profits to the Optimism Collective.
That model has historically generated an estimated $4.5 million annually for the Collective’s treasury, with the lion’s share coming from one chain in particular: Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 juggernaut. But cracks in the arrangement are starting to show, and the implications for the OP token could be significant.
How the royalty machine works
The Law of Chains was introduced in July 2023 to standardize how Superchain members share revenue with the broader Optimism ecosystem. The structure is straightforward but clever in its design. Chains pay whichever amount is larger: 2.5% of gross sequencer revenue or 15% of net sequencer profit.
For chains running lean operations with tight margins, the 15% net profit threshold kicks in. For those printing money on transaction fees, the 2.5% gross revenue floor ensures Optimism always gets its cut.
