About the GIWA Chain

The introduction for GIWA uses terms like 'Ethereum Layer 2,' 'OP Stack,' and 'EVM compatible.' If you're new to this, it might sound like a bunch of jargon.

First, GIWA is a blockchain network introduced by Upbit. Think of it as the foundation where apps run and transactions are recorded. A wallet is the tool we use to check assets on that network and use those apps.

So, since Ethereum already exists, why create a separate chain?

If every transaction were processed directly on Ethereum, costs and processing burdens could skyrocket during times of high traffic. That's why the approach of processing transactions on a separate chain while recording only the data needed for validation on Ethereum was developed. This is the basic structure of L2, and GIWA is a chain that uses this method.

The OP Stack that GIWA uses is an open-source software framework for building these L2s. Instead of creating a chain from scratch, developers can build on top of an existing foundation.

'EVM compatible' is easier to understand in that same context. It basically means that smart contracts and development tools built for Ethereum can also be used on GIWA. It saves developers from the burden of having to learn everything from the ground up.

The network I found in the official documentation is the GIWA Sepolia testnet. The mainnet is noted as being under development, and the documentation didn't list a public launch date.

The GASOK roadmap includes a goal to deploy participating projects to a private mainnet between August and November 2026. However, this is the schedule for the builder support program, so it should be distinguished from the public mainnet launch date.

In the meantime, it would be great to keep an eye on what kind of projects are being built on the testnet. I'll check in on it occasionally, and if I find any projects worth sharing, I'll put together a review.