According to @KookCapitalLLC, a major trend is emerging where every crypto exchange and fintech firm is expected to launch its own blockchain within the next five years. This prediction comes from Sam McIngvale, head of product at OP Labs, the builder of Optimism (OP). McIngvale cites the runaway success of Coinbase's Layer-2 network, Base, as the primary driver for this trend. A key trading advantage highlighted is the ability to monetize dormant crypto assets in custody; for example, Coinbase allows users to move Bitcoin (BTC) to Base and borrow USDC against it. The source notes that Base was built using Optimism's OP Stack, and its success is prompting competitors like Kraken, Bybit, Bitget, OKX, and fintech firm Robinhood to develop their own L2 solutions. This signals a strong growth catalyst for the Layer-2 ecosystem, especially for infrastructure protocols like Optimism. The analysis also points out a growing concern that the industry's original cypherpunk ethos is being diluted as major players like Coinbase and Ripple increase their political lobbying and engagement.

According to Jesse Pollak and Sam McIngvale of OP Labs, a significant transformation is underway as both traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto-native firms embrace blockchain technology for core operations and product innovation. Pollak highlights that asset managers are leveraging blockchain to upgrade outdated, manual back-office systems to a single, real-time source of truth. This modernization enables the creation of novel investment vehicles, such as tokenized private credit funds and money market funds, with major players like BlackRock, Apollo, and Franklin Templeton already moving billions on-chain. These tokenized products offer fractional ownership and enhanced liquidity, representing a new, more transparent asset class for investors. Concurrently, McIngvale predicts that nearly every crypto exchange and fintech firm will launch its own Layer-2 (L2) blockchain within five years, following the success of Coinbase's Base, which was built on Optimism's (OP) OP Stack. McIngvale explains that L2s allow firms to monetize custodied assets like Bitcoin (BTC) by enabling users to borrow against them. This trend, with exchanges like Kraken and OKX also building L2s, aims to drastically improve user experience with faster, cheaper transactions across an interoperable 'Superchain', signaling a major shift towards a more efficient and programmable financial market.

According to @QCompounding, an analysis of insights from OP Labs' Sam McIngvale suggests a major shift in the crypto and fintech landscape, predicting that every crypto exchange and fintech company will run its own blockchain within the next five years. This forecast is heavily influenced by the success of Coinbase's layer-2 network, Base, which was built using Optimism's (OP) OP Stack, as cited in the report. For traders, the key implication is the monetization of dormant assets; for example, Coinbase can move a user's Bitcoin (BTC) to Base to be used as collateral for a USDC loan, unlocking new liquidity. The analysis notes that other major exchanges like Kraken, Bybit, and Bitget are already developing their own L2s, signaling a potential surge in demand for platforms like Optimism. Furthermore, the source highlights the inadequacy of current blockchain valuation models, comparing them to the dot-com era's flawed metrics. It proposes a new framework focused on 'velocity and flow,' analyzing metrics like stablecoin turnover, DeFi lending, and asset flows between layers to provide a more accurate measure of a network's economic vitality and utility for traders.

According to @jessepollak, OP Labs' Head of Product Sam McIngvale predicts that every crypto exchange and fintech company will operate its own layer-2 blockchain within the next five years. McIngvale cites the significant success of Coinbase's Base network, which is built on Optimism's (OP) OP Stack, as the primary driver for this trend. The key advantage highlighted by McIngvale is the ability to monetize dormant crypto assets held in custody; for instance, a user can move their Bitcoin (BTC) to Base and borrow USDC against it, transforming custody from a cost center into a revenue-generating activity. This dynamic has reportedly spurred 'Base envy,' prompting other major exchanges like Kraken, Bybit, Bitget, and OKX to launch their own L2 solutions, signaling a major strategic shift in digital finance infrastructure.

According to @jessepollak, a significant industry shift is underway, highlighted by a prediction from OP Labs' Head of Product, Sam McIngvale, that every crypto exchange and fintech firm will run its own blockchain within the next five years. McIngvale cites the success of Coinbase's Layer-2 network, Base, which was built using Optimism's (OP) OP Stack, as a key model for this trend. The primary driver is the ability to monetize dormant crypto assets held in custody by moving them onto a proprietary L2 to facilitate services like borrowing and lending. This strategy is already being adopted by other major exchanges like Kraken, Bybit, and Bitget. However, @jessepollak contrasts this corporate adoption with a growing concern that crypto's foundational cypherpunk values are being diluted. He argues that as firms like Coinbase engage more with traditional political structures, the industry risks betraying its core mission of decentralization, potentially creating long-term narrative risks for the market even as L2 adoption provides a bullish technical catalyst.

According to @jessepollak, the belief with Optimism is that collective contributions to the OP Stack can rapidly advance Layer 2 solutions. This collaborative approach is mirrored in the distribution efforts by Base and Coinbase Wallet, which are building on Farcaster to create a unified graph for accelerated development. This strategy suggests a focused effort on community-driven enhancements to infrastructure, potentially influencing trading strategies by highlighting key partnerships and developmental progress in the Layer 2 ecosystem.