Ronin Schedules Upgrade to Become Ethereum Layer 2

TLDR

• Ronin will migrate from an independent sidechain to an Ethereum layer 2 on May 12.
• The network will execute a hard fork at block 55,577,490 and pause activity for about 10 hours.
• Ronin said all transfers, swaps, and smart contract interactions will stop during the downtime.
• The upgrade will introduce a Proof of Distribution model to reward active contributors.
• The new model will reduce RON token inflation from over 20 percent to below 1%.

Ronin will migrate from an independent sidechain to an Ethereum layer 2 on May 12. The network will execute a hard fork at block 55,577,490 and pause operations for about 10 hours. The team said the move will strengthen security while maintaining throughput and lower token inflation.

Ronin Migration Plan and Network Downtime

Ronin announced the transition in April and confirmed the execution timeline this week. The network said it will begin the upgrade around 15:16 UTC on Tuesday, based on onchain data. The hard fork will halt transfers, swaps, and smart contract activity during the downtime window. Ronin stated on X, “All network transactions will be paused,” and urged users to complete actions before the pause.

The team said all games built on the network will experience temporary disruption. It confirmed that Axie Infinity and Pixels will suspend in-game onchain actions during the upgrade. Ronin explained, “To avoid any inconvenience, please complete all necessary transactions before the downtime begins.” The network will resume operations after completing the technical transition.

Ronin launched four years ago to support Axie Infinity’s need for faster transactions. The company said, “Axie Infinity onboarded millions of gamers to crypto.” It added that Pixels later demonstrated repeated onboarding success. The team now aims to reconnect with Ethereum and integrate more closely with its base layer.

Ronin suffered a $625 million bridge exploit in 2022 while operating as a sidechain. The attack remains the largest DeFi bridge exploit recorded. The new structure will link the network directly to Ethereum as a layer 2. The team said this structure will enhance bridge security and reduce structural risk.

RON Token Economics and OP Stack Integration

The migration will introduce a “Proof of Distribution” model during the downtime. Ronin said the model will reward builders based on active network contribution. The company stated that the change will reduce token inflation from over 20% to below 1%. It described the adjustment as “fundamentally bullish for RON.”

Ronin will redirect 90 million RON tokens from staking rewards to the treasury. The network will also increase marketplace fees to 1.25% from 0.5%. The team confirmed these changes as part of its revised token structure. It aims to reset supply dynamics through lower emissions and updated incentives.

RON trades at about $0.11 with a market capitalization near $89.5 million. The token remains below its 2024 peak level. However, prices rose 30% over the past 30 days following the migration announcement. Onchain data reflects increased activity during the preparation phase.

Ronin will transition to the OP Stack to operate as an Ethereum layer 2. The network said this integration will allow it to inherit Ethereum’s security framework. It will also use EigenDA for data availability to support scalability. The company confirmed that it will begin the migration process on Tuesday at 15:16 UTC.

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