Ethereum News Today: Ronin Shifts to Ethereum L2 Amid Evolving Rollup Strategies

Ronin, the blockchain developed by Sky Mavis for gaming, is transitioning from a standalone sidechain to a full Ethereum layer-2 (L2) rollup. The migration, scheduled for Q1-Q2 2026, means that while Ronin will remain economically independent with RON as its native gas token, it will post transaction data to Ethereum and inherit its security guarantees. Users will not pay fees in ETH, but the chain will integrate with Ethereum’s settlement layer, marking a strategic and technical realignment with the broader Ethereum ecosystem [1].

This shift is part of Ronin’s broader evolution, which includes new tokenomics designed to reward builders rather than just validators or liquidity providers. The move aligns with a classic L2 model—preserving internal coherence while leveraging shared Ethereum infrastructure [1].

However, Ronin’s return to Ethereum also highlights an emerging design debate within the space: how aligned systems should connect to Ethereum. Should app-specific chains adopt centralized sequencers, shared sequencing via Ethereum validators (known as “based” architectures), or a hybrid approach? Ronin has chosen to retain local sequencing control, leaving order flow and fee logic in the hands of its own operators [1].

In contrast, Taiko, the so-called “first based rollup,” recently launched preconfirmations on Ethereum mainnet, making it the first production implementation of a rollup that outsources sequencing directly to Ethereum block proposers. This approach decentralizes transaction ordering and aligns incentives with the base layer. Taiko’s preconfirmation system provides users with faster feedback—approximately two seconds—than Ethereum’s 12-second block times, bridging a key usability gap without compromising decentralization [1].

Despite initial adoption challenges due to higher transaction costs, Taiko is gaining momentum. Protocol researcher Lin Oshitani noted that being a “based” rollup can become more cost-efficient than centralized sequencing as blob aggregation scales [1].

Puffer Labs is pushing the based architecture further with its UniFi stack, which introduces sub-10 millisecond latency on testnet—comparable to traditional web services. Puffer leverages EigenLayer for an AVS-based preconfirmation system and uses multi-TEE environments (Intel TDX and AMD SEV) to minimize trust assumptions. UniFi appchains share sequencing and settlement with Ethereum but maintain sovereignty over execution logic [1].

Puffer’s second testnet includes EIP-7702-based atomic withdrawals, custom gas token logic, and optional privacy features, making it appealing to both open-source developers and enterprise clients. Unlike Taiko, which emphasizes decentralization and simplicity, Puffer aims to serve a wider range of use cases with a more configurable and performant architecture [1].

Together, these developments reflect a growing divergence in Ethereum-aligned strategies. Ronin represents the traditional L2 model with local execution and Ethereum security. Taiko serves as a proof of concept for based rollups, and Puffer offers a forward-looking blueprint with higher performance and configurability. All are responses to Ethereum’s current limitations—latency, throughput, cost, and governance—while differing on the degree of integration with the base layer [1].

Ultimately, this divergence reflects a broader debate over control and alignment in the Ethereum ecosystem. Who should order transactions? Who earns MEV? Where do economic incentives flow? For developers and users, the trade-offs between faster user experience and deeper alignment, composability and sovereignty, and local revenue versus shared security are becoming increasingly clear [1].

Ronin’s reintegration as an L2 reaffirms the value of the traditional rollup model. Meanwhile, Taiko and Puffer suggest a new vision is emerging—one where Ethereum’s validator base plays a more direct role in the execution of applications built on top [1].

Source: [1] Ronin becoming Ethereum L2 (https://blockworks.co/news/ronin-becoming-ethereum-l2)