GnosisDAO Approves Transition of Gnosis Chain to Ethereum L2

GnosisDAO Approves Transition of Gnosis Chain to Ethereum L2

On August 19, 2026, GnosisDAO approved GIP 153, which empowers the Gnosis Chain to shift from its current standalone layer one status to a ZK-proven Ethereum Economic Zone (EEZ) rollup. This transition aims to enhance the network’s security and economic viability while integrating more closely with the Ethereum ecosystem.

Details of the Proposal and Voting Results

The approval saw a strong backing, with 123,158 GNO votes in favor, against 115 GNO opposing and 151 GNO abstaining, out of 123,425 GNO total participation – significantly surpassing the required quorum of 75,000 GNO. The Gnosis Chain will now prepare to retire its validator set, relying on Ethereum for transaction settlement and security.

Timeline for Implementation

The implementation of the EEZ is projected for late 2026 or early 2027, contingent upon technological readiness. Existing applications and balances on the Gnosis Chain are expected to remain unchanged, allowing users to transition smoothly without the necessity for complete migration to a different blockchain.

Transitioning Security Models

Post-transition, the Gnosis network will adopt a model reliant on Ethereum for transaction settlement, moving away from its current proof of stake system. Additionally, the proposal indicated that the existing staking subsidy from GnosisDAO will be replaced by network fees, which the authors identified as a more sustainable economic basis.

Ethereum Economic Zone Explained

The EEZ framework, developed by Gnosis in collaboration with ZisK and supported by Ethereum Foundation funding, aims to simplify access to Ethereum’s liquidity. It will permit interactions within one transaction, eliminating the need for separate bridges between different networks, which have often led to liquidity fragmentation.

Future Developments and Considerations

Despite the approval, the first EEZ rollout will initially utilize a centralized sequencer, which raises concerns regarding censorship and transaction availability. A deferred feature called “forced inclusion” will eventually be necessary to ensure user protection if transactions are censored, although no specific timeline for this feature has been determined yet.

Next Steps for Gnosis Chain

The upcoming milestones will include the publication of detailed technical specifications and test deployments, critically tied to the overall success of the transition. Until these advancements are achieved, the vote merely confirms Gnosis Chain’s strategic pivot rather than concluding its transformation into an Ethereum L2.