Today we are proposing the next chapter for Metal L2.

Metal DAO is introducing MIP-002: Homecoming — a proposal to migrate Metal L2 from the Optimism Superchain to a sovereign Metal Blockchain subnet. If approved, this migration will make MTL the native gas token, deliver sub-second finality, and fully align Metal L2 with the Metal Blockchain ecosystem.

See full presentation at https://metalhomecoming.com/

THE CASE FOR HOMECOMING

Metal L2 launched on the Optimism Superchain to scale Ethereum quickly and capture the momentum of the OP Stack ecosystem. That decision was right for its time — it let us ship, onboard users, and build partnerships.

But the requirements of a banking-focused Layer 2 have evolved. As we partner with credit unions, integrate with exchanges, and prepare Metal Dollar (XMD) for broader adoption, the limitations of the current architecture have become clear:

• The 7-day withdrawal delay inherent to optimistic rollups creates friction for exchanges and users

• Upstream upgrades require coordinated node updates across all partners

• We cannot use MTL or XMD as native gas tokens

• We have limited sovereignty over upgrade cadence and chain parameters

• Data availability costs on Ethereum are variable and can spike unpredictably

A sovereign Metal Blockchain subnet addresses every one of these — while preserving full EVM compatibility.

WHAT HOMECOMING DELIVERS

MTL as the native gas token. Every transaction on the new Metal L2 will require MTL. This gives the Metal DAO governance token direct, structural utility — not speculative demand, but the kind that comes from being foundational infrastructure.

Sub-second finality. Metal Blockchain's Snow consensus delivers ~0.5s finality. No more 7-day delays. Exchange deposits clear in seconds. Payments settle instantly.

Full sovereignty. We control the upgrade cadence. We set the chain parameters. We own the roadmap.

Banking-ready compliance. Compliance features that Metallicus has championed since day one — KYC integration, policy controls, freeze functionality — are native to Metal Blockchain.

Aligned ecosystem. Metal L2 comes home to Metal Blockchain, the Layer 0 that Metallicus has operated since 2022. One ecosystem. One vision. One community.

WHAT STAYS THE SAME

We have designed this migration to preserve what works:

• All EVM tooling and Solidity contracts continue working unchanged

• Metal Dollar (XMD) continues operating with the same basket — USDC, PYUSD, USDP, RLUSD — governed by MTL holders

• MTL remains the Metal DAO governance token

• We intend all wallet and dApp integrations to carry over

• Existing exchange integrations will be preserved through a parallel operation period

THE MIGRATION PLAN

The Homecoming migration is designed as a phased, non-disruptive transition:

Phase 1 — Deploy Metal Blockchain subnet testnet for exchange integration testing
Phase 2 — Subnet mainnet launch. Both chains operate in parallel. Users choose their preferred network.
Phase 3 — Exchanges migrate primary support to the subnet
Phase 4 — Sunset the OP Stack chain after exchange transition completes

Estimated end-to-end timeline: 6–12 months. No disruption to existing users during the transition.

A NOTE ON OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OPTIMISM

Optimism has been a valued partner. The OP Stack allowed us to launch Metal L2 quickly and learn what our users and banking partners actually need. We are grateful for that foundation.

This migration is not a commentary on Optimism — it is a reflection of Metal L2's unique requirements as a banking-focused chain serving credit unions and their members. The Layer 2 landscape has matured, and our needs have become specific enough that a sovereign subnet is the right architecture for what comes next.

THE PATH FORWARD

We have prepared a comprehensive presentation of the Homecoming proposal covering the full technical architecture, exchange migration plan, XMD multi-chain deployment strategy, and regulatory considerations. You can explore it at:

https://metalhomecoming.com

We encourage every MTL holder to review the proposal, ask questions, and participate in the discussion. This is a meaningful moment for Metal L2 — and for the community that has supported it from the beginning.

VOTE

The governance vote on MIP-002: Homecoming is available here: https://gov.xprnetwork.org/communities/4/proposals/69e022842919e9213c6e705d

MTL holders (or XMT on XPR Network) can connect with their WebAuth Wallet and vote at the above link.

If your MTL is on another network you can deposit it to your WebAuth Wallet first so that you can vote.

Metal L2 started as a tenant on someone else's chain. Homecoming makes it an owner.

Let's come home.

— The Metallicus Team

LEARN MORE:

• Full proposal details: https://metalhomecoming.com

• Metal Dollar (XMD): https://www.metaldollar.com

• Metal Blockchain: https://metalblockchain.org

• Governance vote: https://gov.xprnetwork.org