Venture-Backed Ethereum Project Optimism Delays Launch

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

Mar 26, 2021, 1:27 PM

Updated Aug 19, 2021, 8:22 AM

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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.

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.

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