Optimism proposes OP token buybacks using 50% of Superchain revenue

Key Takeaways

• Optimism plans to use 50% of Superchain revenue to buy OP tokens, linking token value more directly to network usage.
• The proposal marks a shift for OP from a governance focused asset toward one aligned with Superchain economic growth.

Optimism Foundation has introduced a governance proposal to use 50% of incoming Superchain revenue to buy OP tokens, marking a shift in how the token captures value from network growth.

The proposal follows the rapid expansion of the Superchain, a network of layer two chains built on the OP Stack that includes Base, Unichain, Ink, World Chain, Soneium, and OP Mainnet.

Optimism said the Superchain now accounts for 61.4% of layer two fee market share and processes about 13% of all crypto transactions. Participating chains return a portion of sequencer revenue to Optimism, creating a growing revenue base as usage expands.

Over the past twelve months, Optimism collected 5,868 ETH in revenue, all of which was allocated to a treasury governed by token holders. Under the new proposal, half of future Superchain revenue would be used to purchase OP tokens on a monthly basis for one year, with acquired tokens returned to the treasury.

The mechanism is intended to link the OP token more closely to Superchain activity, with buybacks scaling alongside network revenue as usage grows.

Optimism said OP could assume additional roles over time, including securing shared infrastructure, coordinating sequencer rotation, and supporting governance over core protocol functions, with all parameters remaining under tokenholder oversight.

The proposal would also give the Optimism Foundation more flexibility in managing remaining ETH revenue alongside existing staking programs to support Superchain development.

A governance vote is scheduled for January 22, with the buyback program set to begin in February if approved.