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Ronin to become the Orbit chain is the proposal currently on the table from Arbitrum Gaming Ventures.
The gaming investment arm is offering Ronin up to 750,000 ARB across three years. At today’s value, that equals about $367,500. While not huge in absolute terms, in a difficult gaming market, this incentive has significance.
The package includes more than funding. It grants access to Arbitrum’s Gaming Content Creator Program, which supports social campaigns funded by the DAO. It also covers audit expenses through an existing $10 million Arbitrum ecosystem audit fund. From where I stand, this shows Arbitrum’s intent to keep gaming as a priority.
$ARB PRICE TODAY
Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and its expanding role
Arbitrum Gaming Ventures, previously called Arbitrum Gaming Catalyst, continues to expand its outreach. Earlier this year, controversy surfaced over its budget allocations for gaming. Even so, its team has pressed ahead. Founding partner Daniel Peng noted that they had talks with more than 100 gaming studios. Since then, some discussions have resulted in concrete investments.
Projects already receiving backing include Wildcard, a MOBA-style battler, and startups such as Xai Games and Proof of Play. Studio Chain, a Karrat Foundation initiative tied to My Pet Hooligan, is also building with Arbitrum. This highlights the scale of Arbitrum’s gaming push.
Ronin’s cautious stance on the Orbit chain proposal
Ronin’s founders are not yet fully aligned with Arbitrum’s proposal. Jeff “Jihoz” Zirlin responded neutrally, while Aleksander Larsen pointed out other options like Optimism and zkSync. They underlined that Sky Mavis alone will not decide. Validators will weigh in on whether Ronin’s becoming the Orbit chain aligns with the ecosystem’s governance vision.
My analysis indicates that Ronin’s leadership is cautious. They know the decision is strategic and long-term. Accepting Arbitrum’s offer means deeper alignment with its ecosystem. But there are counterarguments. For instance, Optimism’s existing L2 adoption may offer stronger exposure.
Transitioning from sidechain to Ethereum L2
Last week, Ronin’s team announced their plan to rejoin Ethereum by becoming a true L2. Moving away from its current sidechain status could speed up transactions and extend its role beyond gaming. From my perspective, this move signals ambition. They want Ronin to be recognized as more than a game-specific blockchain.
The L2 race matters here. Ethereum scaling paths such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync each offer different advantages. Ronin’s future depends on whether it embraces Arbitrum’s Orbit chain model or chooses another path. I would argue that picking the right partner now will shape Ronin’s place in blockchain gaming for years.
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Gaming remains central to the debate
Gaming is still the anchor in Ronin’s identity. Even if they become an Ethereum L2, their foundation lies in Axie Infinity and play-to-earn ecosystems. Arbitrum Gaming Ventures’ offer recognizes that. Supporting Ronin with audit funding, content programs, and ARB incentives makes sense in a climate where gaming startups need stability.
Still, Ronin’s leaders are weighing the bigger picture. Will their validators see greater opportunity in Arbitrum’s Orbit framework, or in Optimism and zkSync? The real question is whether Ronin wants to stay defined by gaming or step into a broader role as a high-performance L2 chain.
