Optimism introduces Span Batches, cuts OP stack chains overhead by 90%

Business•February 22, 2024, 3:59PM EST
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Optimism introduces Span Batches, cuts OP stack chains overhead by 90%

Quick Take

  • Optimism rolled out Span Batches to reduce the overhead costs of running a standard rollup OP Chain by 90%. 
  • Span Batches followed the network’s Delta upgrade, which required node operators to update their nodes before the upgrade took effect on Feb. 22.

Optimism, developer of the Ethereum Layer 2 scaling protocol OP Mainnet, introduced Span Batches on the platform.

Span Batches are a way of packaging transactions in a compact form that saves space and time, making the blockchain more efficient. They can cut by 90% the fixed onchain overhead costs for chain operators running a standard rollup OP Chain, Optimism wrote on the social media platform X.

"Span Batches significantly reduces the 'breakeven point' where a chain can be economically sustainable using Ethereum L1 for data availability. This is a key feature for more experimental chains to launch on Optimism, allowing more apps to launch their own OP Chain," the firm added. 

Span Batches were added following the governance approval of the Delta network upgrade, which required OP Mainnet node operators to update their nodes before the upgrade took effect on Feb. 22. 

The introduction of Span Batches comes two days after Optimism launched its fourth airdrop, delivering nearly $41 million worth of OP tokens to 22,998 addresses with a focus on rewarding NFT creators.