Why Major Crypto Exchanges Are Racing to Launch New Layer-2 Chains

By 2025, running a dedicated Layer-2 blockchain has shifted from an experiment to a central strategy for major crypto exchanges. Large platforms now operate or plan their own Layer-2 (L2) networks built on top of base chains such as Ethereum and BNB Chain. They aim to cut transaction costs, increase speed, and keep trading, DeFi, and tokenization activity inside their own ecosystems.

Data in late 2025 showed at least eight centralized exchanges tied to affiliated L2 networks. Early launches included Coinbase with Base and Binance with opBNB. Newer entrants such as OKX’s X Layer, Crypto.com’s Cronos zkEVM, Gate.io’s Gate Layer, HashKey Chain, Bitget’s Morph, Kraken’s Ink, and a planned Robinhood chain underline how fast the model has spread. 

Exchange Layer-2 Networks Move Into the Core Strategy

Coinbase – Base Becomes a Core Scaling Platform

Coinbase introduced Base in 2023 as its in-house Layer-2 network. The chain runs on an optimistic rollup framework and anchors back to Ethereum for final settlement.

Base connects directly to Coinbase accounts and products, which lowers friction for retail users. Developers can deploy familiar Ethereum smart contracts and tap into a large existing user base. Low fees and fast confirmation times have turned Base into one of the most active exchange Layer-2 networks.

Binance – opBNB Extends the BNB Chain Ecosystem

Binance expanded its infrastructure with opBNB, a high-throughput Layer-2 that helps scale the BNB Chain. The network batches transactions, compresses the data, and posts that data back to the base chain.

With this design, opBNB targets thousands of transactions per second and low gas costs. It supports gaming, micro-transactions, and on-chain activity that would be too expensive on a congested Layer-1. The exchange uses opBNB to keep more trading and DeFi volume inside its own ecosystem.

OKX – X Layer Uses ZK Technology and a Large Ecosystem Fund

OKX launched X Layer as a Layer-2 network built on zero-knowledge rollup technology. The chain aims to combine cheaper transactions with strong security guarantees and fast finality. Gas payments use OKB, the exchange’s native token, which links network activity to token demand.

The exchange-backed X Layer with a large ecosystem fund to attract builders. It promotes the network as a home for games, DeFi protocols, and Web3 applications that need low fees and direct access to OKX users. That approach positions X Layer as both a scaling tool and a new growth engine.

Crypto.com – Cronos zkEVM Focuses on Speed and Tokenization

Crypto.com upgraded its infrastructure with Cronos zkEVM, a Layer-2 that adopts zero-knowledge proofs. The network reduces block times and cuts gas fees compared with earlier versions of Cronos. It uses a yield-bearing token as gas, which links network usage to on-chain rewards.

Cronos zkEVM targets more than trading and swaps. The roadmap includes tokenized equities, funds, and other real-world assets. By connecting this Layer-2 to Crypto.com’s global user base, the exchange seeks to support faster settlement and new tokenization products under one brand.

Kraken – Ink Network Bridges Centralized Users Into DeFi

Kraken introduced the Ink network as an Ethereum Layer-2 built on the same rollup framework used by several other major chains. The network aligns with an emerging “Superchain” concept that links multiple rollups into a shared ecosystem.

Ink aims to give Kraken users a direct path into DeFi. The chain supports lending, swaps, and other on-chain protocols that sit close to the exchange’s core trading platform. A dedicated token and liquidity incentives encourage activity, while integrations with known DeFi tools help developers bring applications to the network.

Regional and regulated players also joined the trend.

• HashKey in Hong Kong built HashKey Chain with a focus on compliance, payments, and tokenized assets. 
• Bitget positioned Morph as part of a broader plan for its BGB token, now used for gas, governance, and settlement across several products. 
• Robinhood announced plans for an L2 that will support tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds for its brokerage clients.

How Exchange Layer-2 Blockchains Work — and Why Exchanges Care

Layer-2 blockchains run on top of a primary Layer-1 network. They handle most transaction processing off the main chain, then send compressed data or state updates back to the base layer. The Layer-1 chain stores that data and anchors security, while the L2 handles execution and user interaction.

Many exchange L2s use optimistic rollups. In that model, the system assumes transaction batches are valid when they hit the base chain. Other participants can challenge a batch during a set window if they spot fraud. This design cuts the amount of computation the base layer must perform and helps keep fees low.

Some exchanges favor zero-knowledge rollups instead. These systems attach cryptographic proofs that show a batch of transactions is valid without revealing all details on the base chain. They offer strong security guarantees and faster finality, and they can support features such as privacy tools and account abstraction. That, in turn, enables advanced wallets and can even allow gasless transactions for some actions.

Because these L2 networks inherit security from their base chains, exchanges do not need to build an entirely separate consensus system. They still run and manage sequencers, data availability infrastructure, and bridges. However, final settlement remains on the base chain, which spreads trust across a broader validator or miner set.

Capturing Fees, Tokens, and More of the Value Chain

Running an L2 lets an exchange capture a greater share of the crypto value chain. Traditionally, centralized platforms earned revenue from spot trading, derivatives, listings, and custody. Lending, staking, and many DeFi activities often took place on external networks, where exchanges earned little direct income.

On an exchange-run Layer-2 network, the exchange usually controls the main sequencer. That sequencer lines up transactions, groups them into batches, and sends those batches to the base chain while charging gas fees. Users pay these fees in the network’s own token, such as GT, OKB, BGB, HSK, or a similar asset. When more people use the chain and transaction counts rise, demand for that gas token often increases as well.

Many exchanges link token supply to network usage. Some burn part of the gas token over time or reduce supply based on on-chain activity. These mechanisms create an economic link between usage, fee revenue, and token value. They also give exchanges flexible tools when they design loyalty programs, trading discounts, or staking rewards for customers.

Owning an L2 also reduces dependence on external blockchains for on-chain products. Exchanges can host lending protocols, perpetual futures, launchpads, and stablecoin settlement on their own networks. Users move funds from centralized accounts to the L2 through native bridges, often with a few clicks. The exchange then keeps more of the fee pool inside its own ecosystem instead of sending activity to unrelated chains.

DeFi, Tokenized Assets, and the Push for New Use Cases

The current wave of exchange L2s goes beyond basic scaling and fee savings. Several networks aim to become full platforms for decentralized finance and tokenized real-world assets. They want to support tokens tied to equities, funds, commodities, or real estate, while offering near-instant settlement and 24/7 market access.

When a brokerage plans to move tokenized stocks and ETF tokens from an existing rollup to its own chain, once the new network matures. That structure will link brokerage accounts, self-custody wallets, and on-chain settlement in a single environment.

HashKey Chain, the Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain developed by the HashKey Group, specifically emphasizes use cases in Bitcoin finance (BTCFi), payments (such as stablecoins), and the tokenization of regulated financial instruments (Real-World Assets or RWAs). By locating an L2 in a regulated financial hub, it aims to attract asset managers and payment firms that want clearer rules but still seek access to digital asset markets. Fast settlement and low fees remain central to that pitch.

Economics and Technical Trade-Offs Behind Exchange L2s

The economics of an exchange L2 revolve around gas fees, sequencer revenue, and token incentives. Because the operator controls the sequencer, it receives nearly all revenue from ordering transactions and posting data to the base layer. That contrasts with public chains where validators or miners distribute this income among many participants.

Operating a rollup, however, also introduces costs. L2s must publish enough data to the base chain so others can reconstruct the network state if needed. When gas prices on Ethereum, BNB Chain, or other bases rise, so do those data costs. Exchange operators then decide whether to absorb the extra expense or pass it through to users via higher fees.

Profitability depends on maintaining high transaction volume while keeping fees attractive. For that reason, exchanges fund ecosystem programs, integrate L2 support into their main apps, and promote use cases with strong activity potential. Most networks preserve compatibility with Ethereum’s virtual machine standards so developers can migrate existing code without major rewrites.

Technical design also affects user experience. Fast block times limit waiting periods for confirmations. In some designs, gasless transactions allow basic interactions without holding the native token, which lowers barriers for newcomers. Cross-chain bridges connect exchange L2s to other networks, though they also introduce security and operational risks that projects need to address carefully.

Centralization, Security, and Regulatory Risks

The rise of exchange-owned L2s has renewed debate over centralization in rollup design. Most of these networks still rely on a single sequencer under the exchange’s control. That model allows clear coordination and quick upgrades but concentrates power over transaction ordering and censorship in one organization.

Some L2s promote fraud-proof systems that allow participants to challenge invalid batches. In practice, not every network has fully activated or tested these systems at scale. Where fraud proofs remain limited, users rely more on the operator’s internal controls, audits, and reputation. Public code and external security reviews can reduce risk, but they do not eliminate it.

Regulation adds extra complexity for exchange Layer-2 networks. When an exchange uses its L2 to list stock tokens, derivatives, or yield products, regulators can decide that securities or market rules apply. Disclosures for these tokenization projects often spell out those risks and explain that different countries may treat the same instrument in different ways. Because of this, exchanges need to work closely with regulators when they connect on-chain activity to existing brokerage permissions or payment licenses.

New sequencing models aim to share risk across more participants. Shared or “based” sequencers spread ordering across several networks or rely on another chain’s validator set. These architectures remain experimental, and it is not yet clear how widely exchange-owned L2s will adopt them.

What It Means for Users, Developers, and the Market

For retail users, exchange Layer-2s promise lower fees, faster settlement, and smoother movement between centralized accounts and on-chain activity. A user can move assets from a spot wallet to the L2 and reach lending pools, perpetual markets, or games without dealing with complex external bridges. Cheaper transactions also make small trades, micro-payments, and experimentation more practical.

Developers gain easier access to large user bases. An application that deploys on an exchange L2 sits next to millions of existing customers rather than a smaller on-chain community. Ecosystem grants, liquidity programs, and potential listings create additional incentives. At the same time, builders accept that the exchange controls the sequencer, the roadmap, and often the governance token, which can influence priorities over time.

For the broader crypto market, the shift raises questions about fragmentation and concentration. More L2s increase choice and create specialized environments for payments, DeFi, or tokenized assets. Yet heavy centralization of sequencers and bridges may recreate some features of traditional financial platforms inside blockchain systems.

The relative ease of deploying new rollups suggests that more exchanges and financial groups will experiment with their own networks. Outcomes will depend on user demand, the strength of developer ecosystems, and how well these L2s balance control with openness. As the technology matures, the boundary between trading venue, settlement layer, and application platform continues to blur, and exchange-owned Layer-2 networks sit at the center of that shift.