Kraken’s Ink L2 Network Surges Ahead of INK Token Airdrop

Kraken’s ethereum Layer 2 network, Ink, has seen a significant spike in on-chain activity just days before its highly anticipated INK token launch. The Ink Foundation has revealed that the INK token will have a fixed supply of 1 billion, with a community airdrop planned to distribute tokens through an Aave liquidity pool. Recent data shows daily transactions exceeding 500,000, while the number of active smart contracts has nearly doubled since May, reaching 6,000 by June 18. This surge in activity highlights growing interest and anticipation for the INK token airdrop, positioning Kraken’s Ink network as a key player in the Layer 2 ecosystem.

Kraken’s Ink L2 Network Sees Surge in Activity Ahead of INK Token Airdrop

Kraken’s Ethereum Layer 2 network, Ink, has experienced a sharp increase in on-chain activity just days before its INK token launch. The Ink Foundation announced a fixed supply of 1 billion INK tokens, with a community airdrop set to distribute tokens via an Aave liquidity pool. Daily transactions have surpassed 500,000, while active smart contracts nearly doubled since May, reaching 6,000 by June 18.

Despite the surge in usage, total value locked (TVL) remains below $8 million. Ink launched ahead of schedule in December 2024, built on Optimism’s Superchain framework for Ethereum scalability. The network’s EVM compatibility allows seamless migration of Ethereum apps, offering faster transactions and lower fees.

Notably, the INK token will not include governance rights, diverging from typical LAYER 2 token models. This approach highlights Kraken’s focus on utility over decentralized decision-making.

DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) Stock Surges 6% on Solana Tokenized Equity Launch via Kraken

DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) shares rallied 6.01% to $26.38 following its groundbreaking announcement to tokenize Nasdaq-listed equity on Solana. The new DFDVx token, launching on Kraken's xStocks platform, marks the first U.S. public company bridging traditional finance with 24/7 onchain trading.

The Solana-based tokenization enables seamless integration with DeFi protocols while expanding access to institutional and retail investors. Kraken's partnership with Backed positions DFDV at the forefront of the RWA tokenization trend, with Tesla and Apple expected to follow similar paths.