Shape_L2, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution powered by the Optimism Stack, is rapidly making a name for itself in the land of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and on-chain culture.
The platform’s evolution and the unbroken flow of inventive ideas coming from its direction underscore something interesting about how it’s going about its business: there’s creativity, and even a bit of avant-garde panache, in what Shape_L2 is doing. That’s something that’s not easily found in the blockchain industry these days.
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Strong Network Growth and Steady Activity
USDC is the digital dollar. Given this, the vast majority of users will only ever experience the USDC as an on-chain dollar. In July 2022, 61% of contracts deployed on USDC were on-chain. The USDC is just a way of lending and borrowing money with MobileCoin on a trustless, decentralized basis. The first half of 2023 saw 15 contracts deployed on-chain with USDC; the second half of 2023 may have more, as interest in deploying contracts to the MobileCoin network continues to grow. USDC can, therefore, be seen as the only on-chain dollar in MobileCoin’s network.
The consistent expansion of the Shape_L2 network owes itself to the network’s seamless integration with the Optimism Stack, which allows the Layer 2 network to function as something akin to an alternative to Ethereum’s mainnet. The way that the Shape_L2 network has scaled and integrated with the Optimism development framework means that the network can now offer low-cost, high-speed opportunities for doing business on the blockchain. (As the creators of the network like to point out, this is superbly well-suited for the NFT economy.) And this seems to have worked well enough that the creators and developers of decentralized applications are finding ways to make use of it.
Gasback: A Game-Changer for Contract Deployers
One of the most thrilling aspects of Shape_L2 is the rollout of Gasback, a revolutionary mechanism that handles a colossal 80% of the sequencer fees in the platform. This means that when developers create a financial product on the platform, they are directly rewarded for doing so. Most net revenue from Layer 2 goes right back to the platform and, by extension, to the users of the platform.
1/ Live on Dune for a month, @Shape_L2 is an @Optimism Stack–powered ETH L2 built for NFTs and onchain culture.
And now, $SHAPE is coming ⚫
Here’s what’s happening on Shape, and some of the standout projects shaping this non-fungible ecosystem 🧵 https://t.co/ohktIXalWk
— Dune (@Dune) March 27, 2025
Since its implementation, Shape_L2 has already dealt with a grand total of $35,300 in transaction fees. Out of that, $24,100 has ended up netting Layer 2 in profit.
Thus far, 203 accords have been inscribed for Gasback, with $19.3K set aside for reclamation by developers. Of that amount, $2.6K has already been divvied up, and there’s no indication that anyone in the platform’s community should be embarrassed to accept what they’ve been given. Gasback is not only a vital part of the Shape_L2 income stream, it’s also something that is likely to make that platform far more developer-friendly (and hence more appealing). After all, who wouldn’t want to work in an environment where there’s money available for what used to be called “experimental” (and is now called “innovative”) programming? Gasback is there to offer rewards for such “innovative” work.
This financial incentive model is especially useful in the fast-moving environment of Web3 and NFTs. Developers are always trying to find new means of plummeting costs and raking in revenue. By making a directly profitable system for deploying contracts, Shape_L2 has created an ecosystem in which Web3 developers might actually thrive, experiment, and keep building.
The Power of Stack: Reputation and Progress through Participation
Shape_L2 uplifts engagement to the next level with Stack, its innovative reputation layer designed to reward users for participation. Stack turns everyday interactions into kind of progress that offers users rewards in the form of medals, ranks, and perks. It’s what Stack Shape_L2’s engagement mechanism that rewards users for participating in the platform.
Up to now, the platform has produced 18,300 Stack NFTs and, across the community, has earned 76,000 medals. The top-ranking project, Proof of Personhood, has received 28,000 medals. This result demonstrates the community’s interest in establishing unique on-chain identities. With 10,100 Stack holders, Shape_L2’s reputation layer has proven to be an effective tool for building community engagement; its collaboration and engagement with the community has fostered an environment where users are encouraged to continue contributing to the growth of the platform.
The gamified structure of Stack rewards users for their participation and keeps them hooked into the ecosystem. That’s great for developers and writers of content on Shape_L2. And as we expand our ecosystem, user reputation becomes even more important. Stack will play a role in that, too. So even as I was writing this, I began to realize just how central Stack is going to be to the creation of a vibrant decentralized community that recognizes user contributions.
Exciting Projects and On-Chain Experimentation
Shape_L2 is also home to several exciting projects that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of NFTs and on-chain culture. One of the standout projects is Otom, developed by @kGolid, which brings NFTs to life in a dynamic way. In Otom, everything is on-chain, allowing users to mine, annihilate, and combine NFTs to create molecules, earn energy, and interact with mechanics that feel alive. The platform has already seen significant engagement, with 30K daily actions and a peak of 76K actions on March 24. The most popular actions include annihilation and mining, which highlight the interactive nature of Otom and its ability to captivate users.
Another electrifying initiative underway at Shape_L2 is DeePle, rendered by @deekaymotion. This project intersects art, identity, and on-chain personalization within an avatar experience. 543 unique items exist in this universe, 4.4K minted avatars inhabit it, and these figures generate $160K and $1.1K in primary and secondary sales, respectively. The DeePle experience is a testament to what can emerge from Shape_L2, which continues to act as a launchpad for dynamic NFT projects.
The Future of Shape_L2
Shape_L2’s swift expansion and constant innovation promise a luminous destiny for the platform. With its powerful network-driven activities, its groundbreaking Gasback system, a gamified reputation layer, and a diverse array of on-chain projects, Shape_L2 has speedily positioned itself as a hub for NFTs and on-chain experimentation. As the platform scales and continues to evolve, it appears almost certain that it will play a leading role in defining the future of Web3 and decentralized culture.
Shape_L2 is setting itself up as a big player in the whole Ethereum Layer 2 thing, and it’s doing it by giving developers and users kind of the opposite of what a usual top-down model would give. Instead of saying, ‘Hey, this is what you should build, and here are the rules you should follow,’ Shape_L2 is saying, ‘Here’s a bunch of interesting tools. Use them however you like.
And, if you do use them and then come up with a decent reason why what you’ve built is worth backing, then you’ve got a shot at earning some cash on top of whatever else you stand to gain from your own praxeological innovation.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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