Kraken, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange preparing for an IPO, is launching a native token called $INK through its Ethereum Layer 2 network, Ink, which is built on the Optimism stack. The Ink Foundation, a nonprofit organization behind the network, confirmed the token launch and plans to airdrop $INK to early users as part of a liquidity-first strategy to bootstrap on-chain capital markets. The total supply of $INK is capped at one billion tokens. The token will power decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on the network, initially focusing on a white-labeled lending and trading protocol operated in partnership with Aave. Kraken has integrated the $INK token and Ink Layer 2 network into its core product suite, aiming to bridge centralized finance (CeFi) and DeFi experiences for users. Activity on the Ink network has increased ahead of the token rollout, reflecting growing user engagement. Separately, Ethereum Layer 2 network Linea announced plans to launch its own token, allocating 85% of its supply to ecosystem development and implementing a protocol-level ETH burn mechanism that burns 20% of net transaction fees paid in ETH. Linea's tokenomics emphasize strong alignment with Ethereum and its community, including native ETH staking and a consortium-led fund to support builders and public goods. These developments highlight ongoing innovation and competition among Ethereum Layer 2 solutions to enhance scalability, utility, and ecosystem support.