Linea, the zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) rollup developed by Consensys, is making strides toward achieving a decentralized future with the official launch of the Linea Association. Announced on November 13 at Devcon in Bangkok, Thailand, the Linea Association is a Swiss nonprofit dedicated to advancing the development, governance, and decentralization of Linea’s blockchain ecosystem.
At its core, Linea is built to scale Ethereum while maintaining the network's key principles of security and decentralization. The launch of the Linea Association marks an important milestone in this vision, with the aim to create an open, community-led ecosystem for the zkEVM rollup. Linea is positioning itself as a public good, much like Ethereum itself, and seeks to avoid the dominance of a single centralized entity.
Joseph Lubin, the founder of Consensys and an influential figure in the Ethereum community, highlighted the importance of the Linea Association in ensuring that the project remains true to its decentralization ethos. According to Lubin, the association’s role will be to ensure that Linea’s growth is not influenced by “excessive control” by any one governing body.“Linea must be owned and governed openly by all, just as Layer 1 Ethereum is,” said Nicolas Liochon, the founder of Linea, reinforcing the importance of an open and community-driven governance model. The creation of the Linea Association is a pivotal move in giving the Linea community a larger stake in the project’s direction and success.
The Linea Association will focus on three main objectives:
According to Declan Fox, Linea's product lead, the launch of the association will empower the community to take an active role in shaping the future of the network. “We want to do this in a very open and transparent way,” Fox added, emphasizing the importance of creating a decentralized governance structure.
A key feature of the Linea Association’s governance will be tokenholder voting. This will allow Linea’s future token holders to participate in governance decisions, marking a crucial step in the project’s decentralization journey. The Linea token is slated to launch in Q1 2025, and it will be used to give tokenholders governance power over key activities within the Linea Association, including decisions regarding the network’s development and treasury management.
The establishment of tokenholder governance reflects Linea’s commitment to a community-driven model, ensuring that the network’s future is shaped by its users, developers, and broader stakeholders.
While details of the token governance structure are still being finalized, Linea has made it clear that it will adopt a transparent and inclusive approach to decentralization. The goal is to ensure that the Linea Association remains a vehicle for true community participation, where decisions are made openly and transparently.
Linea’s commitment to decentralization also extends to its governance and ecosystem growth, with a strong focus on building out the Layer 2 network in a way that benefits all participants. By externalizing its governance to the Linea Association, Consensys and Linea aim to create a framework that reflects the values of the broader Ethereum community.
The creation of the Linea Association will represent a growing ecosystem of Ethereum technologists, builders, and users, all working together to advance Linea as a decentralized public good. The mission of the association is to “empower the world to live onchain,” and it will work to ensure that Linea scales Ethereum in a way that supports a broader range of decentralized applications (dApps) and use cases.
“Layer 2 solutions that are overly controlled by a narrow group of actors, or that are monetized for the benefit of a select few, will not thrive, ”Lubin noted. “That’s why we’re externalizing governance and empowering the community with Linea.”
The launch of the Linea Association and its focus on decentralization is just the beginning of a larger movement aimed at fostering community-driven governance and innovation. As Linea continues to evolve and scale, it is expected to play a major role in Ethereum’s future by offering a scalable, secure, and decentralized solution for the network.
The upcoming Linea token launch in 2025 will be a critical next step in achieving a fully decentralized, community-governed network. With its open-source technology, focus on decentralization, and commitment to Ethereum’s core principles, Linea is positioning itself to become a key player in the future of Ethereum Layer 2 solutions.
The launch of the Linea Association is a landmark moment in the project’s journey toward full decentralization. By creating a community-led governance structure, Linea is ensuring that its future is shaped by a diverse group of stakeholders rather than a centralized authority. With a focus on scalability, security, and decentralization, the Linea ecosystem is poised to become a major force in the Ethereum ecosystem as it continues to evolve and grow.
The Linea token and its governance model are key components of this vision, and the Linea Association will play a crucial role in guiding the project toward its decentralized future. As Linea takes steps to establish a truly decentralized Layer 2 network, it stands as a strong example of how blockchain technologies can empower communities to govern and develop their own networks.
November 2024, Cryptoniteuae