Ink is an Ethereum layer 2 blockchain incubated by Kraken, built on the OP Stack and part of the Optimism Superchain, per the Ink documentation. It went live on mainnet on December 18, 2024, ahead of its planned Q1 2025 date, per Kraken, and is positioned as a DeFi-focused chain for Kraken users and builders.
As of October 5, 2026, Ink held $210.32 million in DeFi TVL and $169.91 million in stablecoins, per DefiLlama. The INK token has been announced but, as of this update, no official launch date has been published. This guide covers how Ink works, its apps, the INK token, and how to get funds onto it.
What Is Ink Blockchain?
Ink is an optimistic rollup: it batches transactions off Ethereum and posts them back to Ethereum for settlement, so it inherits Ethereum security at lower cost. The Ink documentation describes it as the house of DeFi for the Superchain, with sequencer-level protections and full EVM compatibility for Solidity contracts.
Kraken built Ink to give exchange customers a direct path into onchain apps without leaving the Kraken ecosystem. The move follows a broader pattern of exchanges running their own chains, with Coinbase operating Base on the same OP Stack framework. Ink is a separate network from the Kraken exchange, and an exchange account is not an Ink wallet.
How Ink Works
Ink launched with 1-second block times and has sub-second blocks in development, per the Ink documentation. Gas is paid in ETH, and any contract that runs on Ethereum deploys on Ink without changes. Because it shares the OP Stack with Base and OP Mainnet, Ink can use Superchain interoperability standards as they roll out.
Attribute | Ink |
Type | Ethereum layer 2, optimistic rollup, per the Ink documentation |
Framework | OP Stack, Optimism Superchain member, per the Ink documentation |
Block time | 1 second, sub-second in development, per the Ink documentation |
Mainnet launch | December 18, 2024, per Kraken |
DeFi TVL | $210.32 million on Oct 5, 2026, per DefiLlama |
Stablecoins on Ink | $169.91 million on Oct 5, 2026, per DefiLlama |
Native token | INK announced, not yet launched, per Kraken |
At launch, Kraken said Ink was moving toward Stage 1 decentralization with permissionless fault proofs, which let anyone challenge an invalid state root. Kraken runs the sequencer today, ordering transactions and collecting fees, as Coinbase does on Base.
The Ink Ecosystem
The largest apps on Ink by TVL are Veda, Sentora Curator, Tydro, Nado, Uniswap, and Velodrome, per DefiLlama. Tydro is a lending market and Nado is a perpetuals exchange. Stablecoin liquidity is growing: Ripple lists Ink among the seven networks for RLUSD, and Paxos lists Ink as a chain for USDG.
Native regulated stablecoins matter for a DeFi chain because lending, trading, and payments settle in dollars. For background on the two issuers, see our guides to RLUSD and USDG.
The INK Token
In July 2025, Kraken announced that INK, issued by a subsidiary of the Ink Foundation, would be integrated into Kraken products and airdropped to eligible, active Kraken clients and ecosystem participants through Kraken Drops. Kraken describes INK as a token to unify users, protocols, and builders across the Ink ecosystem.
Ink Points are a separate program. Kraken launched Ink Points Season 1 on Kraken Pro in April 2026 as a loyalty program for active traders, and states the points are non-tokenized and not redeemable. Treat claims that points convert into INK at a fixed rate as unconfirmed.
Ink vs Base
Ink and Base share a template: an exchange-backed OP Stack layer 2, a single company-run sequencer, ETH for gas, and Superchain membership. Base is older and much larger. Ink leans harder into DeFi and has a planned token, while Base has no network token. Both settle to Ethereum.
Feature | Ink | Base |
Backer | Kraken | Coinbase |
Stack | OP Stack, per the Ink documentation | OP Stack |
Gas token | ETH | ETH |
Network token | INK announced, per Kraken | No network token |
Focus | DeFi apps for Kraken users | Consumer apps and payments |
How to Bridge to Ink
To use Ink, you need ETH on Ink for gas. You can bridge from Ethereum through the official bridge linked in the Ink documentation, use a third-party bridge, or withdraw supported assets from Kraken to the Ink network where offered. Always confirm the network is Ink before sending, since assets sent to the wrong chain can be lost.
For moving stablecoins onto Ink, our guide to the best stablecoin bridges compares routes and costs.
Ink FAQ
What is Ink blockchain?
An Ethereum layer 2 built by Kraken on the OP Stack and part of the Optimism Superchain, per the Ink documentation.
When did Ink launch?
Ink mainnet went live on December 18, 2024, per Kraken.
Is the INK token live yet?
INK was announced by Kraken in July 2025 for distribution through Kraken Drops. No launch date has been published as of this update.
Are Ink Points the same as INK tokens?
No. Kraken says Ink Points are a non-tokenized loyalty program on Kraken Pro and are not redeemable.
How big is Ink?
$210.32 million in DeFi TVL on October 5, 2026, per DefiLlama.