Celo Developer cLabs to Use OP Stack for Ethereum Layer 2 Launch

cLabs opts for Optimism's OP Stack to power Celo's Ethereum Layer 2 launch, promising faster transactions and increased throughput.
By Kelvin Munene Murithi
Updated June 21, 2025
Layer 2 Solutions

Highlights

  • cLabs selects Optimism's OP Stack for Celo's Ethereum Layer 2, boosting throughput by 50%.
  • Celo's shift to Layer 2 aims for faster transactions, reducing block time to 2 seconds.
  • Optimism's rollups drive cost-efficient scalability, drawing Celo into a collaborative blockchain ecosystem.

cLabs, the principal developer behind the Celo blockchain, has announced its decision to employ Optimism’s OP Stack for its upcoming Ethereum Layer 2 solution. This choice signifies the conclusion of a very detailed eight-month assessment period during which a number of scaling technologies were subject to thorough testing.

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Celo Transition to Layer 2

The adoption of the OP Stack by cLabs is part of the move to make the Celo network not a standalone Layer 1 blockchain but a more integrated Ethereum Layer 2 chain. This strategic move is expected to harness the wider Ethereum ecosystem thereby improving the capabilities and performance of Celo.

The initial proposal put forward eight months ago was finalized after a thorough analysis of competing technologies such as Arbitrum Orbit, zkSync’s ZK Stack, and Polygon CDK.

The process of the transition includes not only technological changes but also quite a lot of community involvement. The proposal of the shift to the OP Stack will be subjected to a chain of community votes, enabling CELO token holders to have an influence on the way in which the blockchain should develop. This democratic approach emphasizes cLabs’ intention to sustain a community-oriented development process.

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Technical Enhancements and Community Engagement

The technological enhancements resulting from the implementation of the OP Stack are remarkable. To improve the network performance, cLabs will decrease the block time allowance from 5 seconds to 2 seconds and the throughput will be increased by 50%.

Such changes are expected to deliver a significant improvement in the performance and scalability of transactions, making the network more appealing to both developers and users.

Community engagement is an important part of the process of transitioning Celo to Layer 2. The development team has planned several community calls to talk about the transition plan, have an open and transparent discussion, and collect important feedback from the community. This method not only contributes to the perfection of the technical side of migration but also guarantees that the community’s voice is involved in important decision-making processes.

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Broader Impact on the Blockchain Ecosystem

Celo’s take on the OP Stack adoption is going to have a wider effect on the blockchain ecosystem. The technology of Optimism, mainly seen in its use of optimistic rollups, provides a scalable solution as it processes transactions outside the main Ethereum chain, resulting in cost savings and improved performance.

This technology is utilized by projects like Base of Coinbase and World Chain of Worldcoin, therefore indicating that there is an increasing movement of optimistic rollups being adopted as Layer 2 solutions.

The integration of Celo in the Optimism ecosystem via the OP Stack is anticipated to promote higher interoperability and cooperation between different blockchain projects. This could lead to enhanced functionalities and more robust development within the ecosystem, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders, from developers to end-users.

Read Also: Shibarium Outage: Shiba Inu’s Layer-2 Stages Quick Recovery

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Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin Munene is a crypto and finance journalist with over 5 years of experience, offering in-depth market analysis and expert commentary . With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Actuarial Science from Mount Kenya University, Kelvin is known for his meticulous research and strong writing skills, particularly in cryptocurrency, blockchain, and financial markets. His work has been featured across top industry publications such as Coingape, Cryptobasic, MetaNews, Cryptotimes, Coinedition, TheCoinrepublic, Cryptotale, and Analytics Insight among others, where he consistently provides timely updates and insightful content. Kelvin’s focus lies in uncovering emerging trends in the crypto space, delivering factual and data-driven analyses that help readers make informed decisions. His expertise extends across market cycles, technological innovations, and regulatory shifts that shape the crypto landscape. Beyond his professional achievements, Kelvin has a passion for chess, traveling, and exploring new adventures.
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