Optimism blockchain is partnering with Flashbots to overhaul how transactions are handled across its OP Stack ecosystem, with the goal of making Ethereum’s top layer-2 networks faster and more flexible.
At the core of this collaboration is sequencing, the process that decides how quickly transactions are confirmed, which trades take priority, and the fees users pay. Flashbots, which already builds over 90% of Ethereum blocks, will extend its infrastructure to the OP Stack. Optimism says this will enable near-instant confirmations and more user-friendly transaction ordering for every chain in the broader “Superchain.”
Flashbots and MEV: Shaping Block Production
Flashbots, widely recognized for its work on maximal extractable value (MEV), has already transformed block production through its MEV-Boost tool.
Some of its sequencing innovations are already running on OP Stack chains. Base and Unichain leverage “Flashblocks” to achieve block times as fast as 200 milliseconds. Meanwhile, Unichain and World Chain are testing features like verifiable transaction ordering and priority blockspace, which ensure fair ordering of transactions and guard against frontrunning.
Over the next few months, Optimism and Flashbots plan to expand Flashblocks and other advanced sequencing research to Optimism’s mainnet and additional OP Stack-based networks.
