Optimism and Blockchain for Businesses: Interview with Kyle Jenke on the Future of On-Chain Finance

The adoption of blockchain by large enterprises is entering a new phase. An increasing number of global companies are considering the creation of proprietary on-chain infrastructures, no longer as mere experiments, but as strategic components of their business model.

We discussed this with Kyle Jenke, Chief Business Officer of Optimism, in an exclusive interview where he explained why more enterprises are choosing the OP Stack, what the main needs of companies are, and why 2026 could represent a real turning point for on-chain finance.

Optimism as a Launchpad for Enterprise Blockchain

Optimism has established itself as one of the most significant Layer 2 infrastructures in the Ethereum ecosystem. Today, approximately 70% of Layer 2 transactions and 15% of all crypto transactions pass through the OP Chains.

According to Jenke, the mission of the project is clear:

“We want to be the launchpad for businesses that wish to build their own blockchain.”

Not surprisingly, leading companies such as Coinbase (Base), Uniswap (UniChain), Kraken, Sony (Soneium), OKX, and Upbit have already chosen the OP Stack.

What Companies Really Look for in a Layer 2

From the experience gained with over 35 companies that have already launched a chain, four key needs emerge:

• Partner reliability, with a solid track record
  
• Scalability, to support high transaction loads
  
• Privacy, crucial for financial institutions and payments
  
• Customization, to stand out in an increasingly competitive market
  

The OP Stack allows businesses to focus on their core business, without having to deal with infrastructural complexity.

Why Sony Chose Optimism

One of the most emblematic cases is that of Sony, one of the largest Japanese multinationals. The choice of Optimism stems from the ability to combine the security of Ethereum with high technical flexibility.

Sony can thus develop custom blockchain products, maintaining high standards of security and resilience, without sacrificing innovation and user experience.

Japan is also emerging as one of the most dynamic markets, with banks and major tech companies increasingly interested in on-chain.

Fintech, Crypto, and Traditional Finance: An Ongoing Competition

According to Jenke, one of the most significant trends is the convergence between different sectors:

• The fintech companies are integrating crypto services
  
• Crypto companies are increasingly offering traditional financial products
  
• Traditional finance enters the blockchain world
  

This competition makes differentiation a decisive factor, and owning a proprietary blockchain becomes a strategic advantage.

Stablecoin: More Competition, More Innovation

The number of stablecoins continues to grow: today there are over 13 stablecoins with a market cap exceeding one billion dollars, all pegged to the US dollar.

According to Jenke, competition is positive because:

• accelerates innovation
  
• enhances the offering for the end user
  
• facilitates the global expansion of companies
  

Optimism is also keenly interested in the development of euro-denominated stablecoins, which could reach a critical mass in the coming years.

Challenges to Address: Throughput and Costs

On the roadmap front, Optimism is focused on two main aspects:

• increase throughput, to support large-scale enterprise use cases
  
• reduce operational costs, lowering the entry barrier for new companies
  

The goal is to make on-chain accessible and sustainable even for medium-sized enterprises.

Invisible Blockchain and User Experience

The future of on-chain finance hinges on a seamless user experience, where the blockchain becomes virtually invisible. The end user should perceive only simplicity, reliability, and speed.

In this context, projects like Base are demonstrating how to naturally integrate payments, social, and on-chain finance.

2026 as a Key Year for Enterprise Adoption

By monitoring regulatory developments, business feedback, and project progress, Optimism observes clear signals:

2026 could mark the definitive entry of large enterprises into on-chain finance.

Link to the full interview: