Gate Layer officially launched: How the Layer 2 network based on OP Stack reshapes the value of GT Token

On September 25, the world's leading crypto exchange Gate officially launched its proprietary Layer 2 blockchain - Gate Layer. This network is built on the OP Stack and is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), using GateChain as its settlement layer.

At the same time, Gate has made significant upgrades to the economic model of its platform token GT (GateToken), which will serve as the only Gas token for Gate Layer and continue its dual-destruction model. This move marks Gate's strategic transformation from a pure trading platform to a full-stack Web3 service provider.

01 Technical Architecture: High-Performance Layer 2 Network Based on OP Stack

The technical foundation of Gate Layer is built on top of the OP Stack, which is a market-validated Layer 2 solution framework. Choosing the OP Stack means that Gate Layer can fully leverage its modular design and Ethereum compatibility, providing developers and users with a seamless migration experience.

Unlike many emerging blockchains, Gate Layer innovatively adopts GateChain as its settlement layer. This design combines the scalability advantages of Layer 2 with the security of Layer 1, creating a hybrid architecture that is both efficient and secure.

In terms of performance, Gate Layer achieves a processing capacity of over 5,700 transactions per second and reduces block generation time to 1 second. This high-performance architecture significantly lowers transaction costs, with the cost of one million transfers being only about $30, making large-scale applications feasible.

Cross-chain interoperability is another highlight of Gate Layer. By integrating LayerZero, Gate Layer enables asset cross-chain transfers with mainstream public chains such as Ethereum, BSC, and Polygon, breaking the island effect between blockchains.

02 Ecosystem Layout: Three Core Tools Covering All Scenarios of Web3

Gate Layer is not an isolated infrastructure, but rather a core pillar of Gate's "All in Web3" strategy. To this end, Gate has launched three core tools that cover the full range of needs from asset creation to trading.

Perp is a perpetual contract center with CEF-level liquidity. It provides users with a trading experience comparable to centralized exchanges while enjoying the security and transparency of decentralized platforms. This product directly targets the decentralized derivatives trading market and addresses the problem of fragmented liquidity in existing DeFi perpetual contract platforms.

Gate Fun is a no-code token issuance incubator. This tool significantly lowers the technical barriers for issuing tokens on the blockchain, allowing creators and project teams to focus on the project itself rather than technical implementation. This will help to inspire more innovation and experimentation, especially in the fields of Meme coins and community tokens.

Meme Go is a real-time cross-chain Meme token tracker. With the booming Meme coin market, investors need a tool to monitor new projects and trends in the multi-chain market in real-time, and Meme Go is designed to meet this need.

03 Token Economics: GT becomes the only Gas token for Gate Layer

The GT token plays a core role in the Gate Layer ecosystem. As the only Gas token of the network, the use cases and value support of GT have been substantially expanded. With the increase in trading volume on Gate Layer, the natural demand for GT will also increase.

The deflationary mechanism of the GT token is another key element of its value model. Gate continues the dual destruction model of GT, which includes regular platform burns plus on-chain transaction burns. As of now, over 180 million GT have been destroyed, accounting for approximately 60% of the initial supply.

This large-scale destruction means that the circulating supply of GT is significantly reduced, which will support its price if demand remains constant or increases. In addition, every transaction on the Gate Layer will consume GT as gas fees, and this portion of the tokens will be burned, further reinforcing the deflationary effect.

The upgrade of the GT token economy is synchronized with the launch of Gate Layer, reflecting Gate's strategic intention to build a closed-loop ecosystem. By deeply integrating GT into the infrastructure, Gate is creating a value cycle: increased network usage drives the demand for GT, the rising value of GT incentivizes more participation, further expanding the network effect.

04 Infrastructure: GateChain Upgrade Provides a Solid Foundation for Layer 2

As the settlement layer of Gate Layer, GateChain has recently completed the v1.20 version upgrade, providing a solid technical foundation for the entire architecture. This upgrade has iterated GateChain's EVM version to Cancun and is compatible with 12 EIP protocols.

It is especially noteworthy that GateChain has added support for Blob transactions (EIP-4844). This upgrade significantly reduces transaction costs on Layer 2 networks while improving data availability, providing technical support for the high-performance performance of Gate Layer.

GateChain itself is a high-throughput, low-cost Blockchain network. According to official data, the average transaction cost of GateChain is nearly zero, having processed over 14.75 million on-chain transactions and generated more than 6.16 million Blocks.

GateChain adopts the GateMint consensus mechanism, achieving real-time block confirmation, eliminating rollback risks and uncertainties. This determinism and immediacy are especially important for financial applications, particularly in high-frequency trading scenarios such as perpetual contracts running on Gate Layer.

05 Security and Transparency: Reserve Proof Enhances User Confidence

Gate has always prioritized security and transparency as its core value propositions. With the launch of Gate Layer, Gate continues to uphold its high standards of reserve management. According to the reserve report released in June 2025, Gate's total reserves reached $10.453 billion, with a reserve ratio of 123.09%.

This means that Gate holds assets exceeding 23% of user deposits, providing an excess reserve of $1.96 billion. Specifically, the reserve ratio for major assets is 137.69% for BTC, 121.36% for ETH, and 102.63% for USDT.

Gate is also continuously innovating in the application of technology, further deepening the application of zero-knowledge proof (zk-SNARK) technology in reserve auditing. This method ensures the transparency and verifiability of asset reserves while protecting user privacy.

For the newly launched Gate Layer, these security practices and transparency commitments will extend to the Layer 2 network. Users can enjoy low-cost, high-speed transactions while obtaining security guarantees comparable to the mainnet.

06 Industry Background: Exchanges Compete to Lay Out the Layer 2 Track

Gate's initiative to launch a Layer 2 network aligns with the strategic trends of major crypto asset exchanges. Especially the success of Coinbase and Base demonstrates the huge potential of Layer 2 networks under exchanges.

Compared to merely being a trading platform, having its own Blockchain network can benefit the exchange in multiple ways: enhancing user retention, creating new revenue streams, controlling the technology stack, and participating more deeply in the construction of the DeFi ecosystem.

For Gate, Gate Layer is a key step in its transformation from a trading platform to a full-stack Web3 service provider. By providing a one-stop solution from token issuance, trading to cross-chain monitoring, Gate is building a complete ecosystem, not just a single product.

In the increasingly competitive landscape of crypto asset exchanges, this vertical integration strategy could become an important differentiating factor. As the industry matures, the quality and breadth of infrastructure may become more important than traditional competitive points such as trading fees.

07 Market Prospects: The Synergy Between GT Tokens and Gate Layer

The collaborative development of GT tokens and Gate Layer is worth looking forward to. As the only Gas token of Gate Layer, GT will directly benefit from network activities. This value accumulation mechanism is fundamentally different from the traditional utility of exchange platform tokens (such as fee discounts).

The value of traditional platform coins is mainly related to the trading volume of the exchange, while GT is now associated with the network activity of Gate Layer and the broader Web3 ecosystem. This shift brings GT closer to fundamental network assets like ETH, rather than just being a platform utility token.

If Gate Layer can attract a large number of developers and users, GT may experience structural growth in demand. Network effects may create a virtuous cycle: more applications attract more users, increasing the demand for GT, enhancing network security, and in turn attracting more applications.

However, success is not guaranteed. Gate Layer will face intense competition from other Layer 2 solutions, including those supported by other exchanges. Gate's differentiated advantage lies in its existing user base and comprehensive product ecosystem, which may lower user acquisition costs and increase initial adoption rates.

Conclusion

The launch of Gate Layer marks a new stage in the competition among exchanges—from merely competing on the number of trading pairs and transaction fees to competing on the integrity of blockchain infrastructure and ecosystem. By deeply integrating the GT token into a high-performance Layer 2 network, Gate is creating a value loop: increased network usage drives demand for GT, rising GT value incentivizes more participation, further expanding the network effect.

For users and developers, Gate Layer offers a lower-cost and higher-performance blockchain experience; for GT holders, the upgrade of the token economic model creates a more sustainable value accumulation mechanism; for the entire Web3 industry, the exchange's foray into the infrastructure sector will accelerate technological innovation and large-scale application.

As the Gate Layer ecosystem continues to develop, its ability to replicate the success of Base, or even carve out a unique growth path, will depend on technological stability, developer community building, and market adoption levels. However, it is certain that Gate has secured a favorable position in the competitive Web3 infrastructure race through this strategic move.