Linea Association unveils plan for decentralized governance with LINEA token

Seeking to advance global collaboration, the Linea Association aims to empower communities through transparent governance and open-source technology.

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

At Devcon in Bangkok, the Linea Association announced its formation to oversee the development and governance of Linea’s open-source technology and ecosystem. The Swiss non-profit aims to decentralize the Linea Network—the zkEVM Layer-2 solution designed to scale Ethereum—by launching the LINEA token by the end of Q1 2025, enabling community-driven governance.

The Association’s mission includes supporting the growth of Linea Mainnet to build a fast, affordable, and secure network accessible worldwide. It plans to advance decentralization through new governance mechanisms and implement decentralized sequencing and proving. Empowering developers to create decentralized applications with enhanced user experiences and fostering strong, engaged communities are also key priorities.

Nicolas Liochon, founder of Linea and board member of the Linea Association, said.

“Decentralization is at the core of Linea’s vision. Linea must be owned and governed openly by all as a public good, just as Layer 1 Ethereum is.”

The governance structure will feature a Board of Directors, a General Assembly, an Executive Director, and a token governance body. The LINEA token will allow holders to participate in governance, with details on token design and utility to be shared before the token generation event. More than 1.3 million verified addresses have joined the network, reflecting Linea’s focus on organic community growth.

Since its mainnet launch in August 2023, Linea has processed over 230 million transactions, making it one of the fastest-growing zkEVMs on Ethereum. The ecosystem expanded from 150 partners in Aug. 2023 to over 420 by Nov. 2024. The technology is publicly available under the Apache license, allowing users to view, fork, and modify the code.

The Association operates independently of Consensys, aligning with CEO Joseph Lubin’s vision to progressively decentralize core innovations. Lubin said,

“As Consensys progresses toward decentralization, Linea represents a foundational step in our vision of creating a Network State for the emerging decentralized global economy.”

Linea has integrated long-term Ethereum contributors like Status, developers of the Nimbus client that secures 10% of Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network. The Association plans to further decentralize core protocol development and governance, ensuring social and technical alignment within the community.

The Swiss Association structure allows token holders to have governance over certain activities, including managing core intellectual property and a treasury dedicated to supporting Linea’s mission. The focus remains on furthering the growth and development of the open-source LINEA technology and the Linea Network.

Linea aims to empower users and businesses to manage valuable on-chain data, including identity and property. Per the announcement, the Linea Association seeks to be a significant step toward decentralizing the network and fostering collaborative, transparent governance. The initiative seeks to empower the global community to shape the future of Linea and contribute to the broader Ethereum ecosystem.

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