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Venture-Backed Ethereum Project Optimism Delays Launch

The throughput-boosting Layer 2 project said rushing its mainnet launch could have consequences for unprepared projects.

By Danny Nelson
Updated Sep 14, 2021, 12:32 p.m. Published Mar 26, 2021, 1:27 p.m.
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Ethereum-scaling system Optimism delayed its mainnet launch to July after the venture-backed startup’s promise of a debut in March proved to be “overeager,” the project announced Thursday.

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  • In a blog post, Optimism, which last month raised $25 million from Andreessen Horowitz and others, admitted the original timeline was unworkable and took many projects by surprise.
  • Rushing its tech salve for raging Ethereum gas fees could have dangerous consequences. “There is a very real risk of” projects getting fraudulently forked by bad actors, the post said.
  • Optimism called July a “rough estimate” for its mainnet launch. A hacker-ready testnet will debut in late April.

Read more: Andreessen Horowitz Leads $25M Round in Ethereum Scaling Solution

Andreessen HorowitzEthereum NewsScalingOptimism

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