Ronin to Transition into Ethereum Layer 2 by 2026, Expanding Beyond Gaming

Sky Mavis’ Ronin blockchain, best known for powering the Axie Infinity ecosystem, has announced plans to transition from a standalone network into an Ethereum Layer 2 solution. The migration, expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026, marks a pivotal step in Ronin’s evolution from a gaming-focused sidechain to a general-purpose blockchain aligned with Ethereum’s scaling roadmap.

Why Ronin is Moving Back to Ethereum

Originally launched in 2021 to alleviate Ethereum’s congestion for Axie Infinity players, Ronin quickly became one of the most used gaming blockchains. But with Ethereum’s recent advancements in speed, cost efficiency, and institutional adoption, the Ronin team sees L2 integration as a natural progression.

“Ethereum is back,” the team declared, pointing to lower transaction fees, faster speeds, and Wall Street’s growing embrace of Ethereum. These improvements, combined with Ethereum’s robust security model, convinced Ronin to anchor itself more firmly within Ethereum’s expanding ecosystem.

New Features of Ronin’s Ethereum Layer 2

The migration will introduce several major upgrades:

• 12x Faster Network Performance: Ronin’s Ethereum L2 will dramatically improve speed and throughput, addressing scalability bottlenecks.
• Proof of Distribution Tokenomics: A new model will reward “active builders” based on their ecosystem contributions, including gas fees, treasury revenue, and TVL.
• Enhanced Security & Cost Efficiency: By adopting Ethereum’s data availability mechanisms, Ronin will reduce reliance on its native RON validators and cut costs significantly.

These changes are designed not only to strengthen Ronin’s infrastructure but also to attract a broader pool of developers and applications.

Expanding Beyond Gaming

While gaming will remain a cornerstone, Ronin aims to broaden its use cases. The network’s new strategy is to evolve into a general-purpose “gamification engine” for the wider crypto ecosystem, supporting DeFi, NFTs, and other decentralized apps.

Integration with Ethereum’s vast developer ecosystem will open doors for cross-chain composability, streamlined interactions with Ethereum-based protocols, and deeper interoperability across industries.

Industry Perspective

Analysts view Ronin’s move as part of a broader trend: the consolidation of blockchain activity around Ethereum L2s. By combining Ronin’s proven gaming infrastructure with Ethereum’s scalability and security, the network positions itself as a hybrid hub—offering low fees, fast transactions, and integration with Ethereum’s financial and application layers.

For Axie Infinity players, developers, and new projects, this transition could mean smoother transactions, reduced friction, and expanded opportunities to tap into Ethereum’s growing institutional and retail adoption.

Layer 2’s in 2025

Metric/Aspect	Leading L2s / Insights
Total Value Secured (TVS)	Arbitrum One (~$19.3B) > Base (~$15.5B)
Throughput (Gas Units/sec)	Base dominates (~67% of 29.64 Mgas/s)
UOPS / TPS	Base (~99.74 UOPS) > Arbitrum One (~35.16 UOPS)
Average Transaction Fees	L1: ~$3.78; L2s avg: ~$0.08; Arbitrum One: ~$0.03
Revenue Sources	Base earns mostly via priority fees from DEX swaps (up to 86% of revenue)
Ecosystem Size	TVL >$42B, 28M wallets, L2s handle 63% of Ethereum txs
DEX Activity	Base surpassed Ethereum Mainnet in DEX volume (39% vs 36%)
MEV Impact	High speculative MEV on Base/Optimism (>50% gas); inefficient revenue (only 25% fees paid)