Learn about SuperStacks with Mint: A new paradigm of Superchain incentives.

As Ethereum enters a new era of modularity and multi-chain interoperability, OP Superchain is gradually becoming a representative of the next generation of blockchain network architecture. In the Superchain ecosystem composed of multiple chains, how to incentivize users, developers, and protocols to participate collaboratively has become one of the core issues.

In April 2025, the Optimism Foundation officially launched SuperStacks — an experimental pilot incentive mechanism aimed at exploring how to build a sustainable, composable, and scalable network-level incentive model through on-chain behavior data. This article will guide you through the new incentive paradigm represented by SuperStacks and discuss how it provides direction for future on-chain incentive systems.

What is SuperStacks?

SuperStacks is the first incentive experiment by the Optimism Foundation within the Superchain scope, taking place from April 16, 2025, to June 30, 2025. The program rewards users for providing liquidity using interoperable assets (such as USDT0) across multiple OP chains by issuing points (XP), including:

Provide liquidity for cross-chain assets;

The longer you participate, the more XP you gain;

Additional surprise rewards (such as phased bonuses) may be launched in the future.

Participants can view XP points, rankings, and leaderboards in real-time through the official interface to ensure transparency.

It is worth emphasizing that XP is not a token, is non-transferable or redeemable, and does not guarantee future acquisition of OP or other rewards. However, what XP represents is a proof of participation in the design and testing of the early incentive model of the Superchain, recording the behavioral data of users participating in this experiment.

How is it different from airdrops?

Optimism has previously rewarded ecosystem participants through multiple rounds of airdrops, RetroPGF, and other methods. However, airdrops are more "result-oriented" (what you did), while SuperStacks are more "behavior-oriented":

Airdrop rewards historical contributions;

SuperStacks rewards current behaviors, especially those that demonstrate the value of cross-chain interactions and network cooperation.

In addition, SuperStacks, as a continuously tracked points mechanism, can dynamically adjust participation standards and reward structures, thus responding more agilely to the real operational situation of the ecosystem.

Why does Superchain need "new incentives"?

The incentive logic of traditional public chains often involves the chain or protocol issuing rewards separately to promote single-point growth. Superchain constructs a new ecosystem of multi-chain interoperability and shared incentives:

Applications can be deployed across chains, and assets can flow seamlessly between different OP chains.

Users can participate in liquidity incentives across multiple chains and earn cross-chain activity points (XP) through SuperStacks.

Beyond island-style incentives, encouraging protocols and users to collaborate in a multi-chain environment, SuperStacks is Optimism's first incentive experiment for this trend.

This new type of network structure requires a more coordinated and unified incentive mechanism to encourage users to engage in behaviors that "create value for the entire network."

SuperStacks is the first attempt at this idea, rewarding "composable usage behavior" — that is, real interactions that demonstrate the cross-chain utility of super chain assets and applications.

This is an experiment, but it is of great significance.

The Optimism Foundation has repeatedly emphasized in its official announcements:

SuperStacks is a pilot project, and the rules may be adjusted or not continued.

XP does not have economic value and does not promise any future returns;

But it is precisely this "experimental" nature that provides unique value for the long-term incentive design of Superchain:

It may become an early exploration of the Superchain economic model, accumulating data for future incentive mechanisms.

Experimental results may provide behavioral references for subsequent plans.

It shows Optimism's strategy for building a sustainable ecosystem through progressive experimentation.

SuperStacks is an important experiment by Optimism on the Superchain economic model, and its exploration of cross-chain incentive models provides valuable experience for the entire ecosystem.

An incentive leap towards the future

SuperStacks is an experiment and a signal.

Experimental results may influence the future direction of the Web3 incentive system, shifting from isolated single-point rewards to collaborative network-level incentives. Under this mechanism, users are not only users of the application but also co-creators of the interconnected value of the network.

It also means that projects built on the OP Superchain can undergo more native integrations and innovations around the SuperStacks incentive model in the future.

For the entire ecosystem, this represents a leap towards a more coordinated, sustainable, and compounding future of incentives.