Ronin, the Ethereum sidechain custom-built for the Axie Infinity play-to-earn web3 game, is migrating to become a full-fledged Ethereum Layer 2, according to a recent announcement. As part of the move, the project hopes to expand its sights and also become the “gamification engine” for crypto.

“Four years ago, we built Ronin because Axie Infinity needed a faster, more efficient network. Ethereum was still early in its scaling roadmap. Necessity was the mother of our invention.” Ronin wrote in a blog . “However, things are different now. Ethereum is BACK. Transaction costs and speeds are better than ever. We’re early to a new era of growth, and Ronin is ready to rise.”

While there are examples of sidechains or other networks migrating to become a Layer 2, like Celo, formerly an independent Layer 1, it’s a relatively rare phenomenon. The relaunch is expected to happen in the first half of 2026.

Sky Mavis' motivations

The move comes amid a cross-current of trends, including reignited interest in Ethereum. The second-largest blockchain spent much of 2025 locked in a narrative war with Solana, a rival network that has captured users and attention from Ethereum, in part leading to community backlash against the Ethereum Foundation’s prioritization of L2s over scaling the mainchain.

It also comes amid rising competition, or potential competition, from companies looking to launch bespoke blockchains, like Circle’s Arc , Tether’s Stable , and Stripe’s Tempo .

on sanctions-related charges.