South Korean crypto exchange Upbit has announced the launch of Giwa, its new Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain, now available on testnet. Giwa, which stands for Global Infrastructure for Web3 Access, is built on the Optimism Foundation’s OP Stack and aims to process blocks every second, offering near real-time transactions and inheriting Ethereum’s security for settlements.

This move marks Upbit’s expansion beyond its core trading business into blockchain infrastructure development, positioning the exchange alongside global competitors like Coinbase (Base) and Binance (BNB Chain), both of which operate their own layer-2 blockchains for app development.

Giwa’s testnet, called Giwa Sepolia, comes equipped with developer tools to support migration of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible smart contracts and features a block explorer to track activity. This setup allows developers to experiment and test applications in a live environment.

One of Giwa’s standout goals is to make Web3 “easy and fun for everyone,” reflecting Upbit’s ambition to support broader adoption of decentralized technologies in South Korea and globally. In addition to Giwa Chain, Upbit’s Web3 infrastructure includes Giwa Wallet, a mobile application for digital asset storage and transfers across multiple supported blockchains like Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Polygon, and the native Giwa Chain.

As development on Giwa continues, Upbit’s entry into blockchain infrastructure is expected to intensify competition among crypto exchanges and contribute to the evolution of the Web3 ecosystem.