Ronin to Shut Down for 10 Hours on May 12 for Hard Fork to Ethereum Layer 2

Ronin will hard fork at block 55,577,490 on May 12, 2026 to migrate from an independent sidechain to an Ethereum layer 2, causing about 10 hours of network downtime. The migration is expected to begin around 15:16 UTC, during which all Ronin transactions and onchain game actions will be paused.

Users have been advised to complete necessary transfers, swaps and smart contract interactions before the window opens.

The network announced the migration in April 2026. Ronin said the purpose behind the migration is to enhance security, tokenomics and scalability. It suffered the largest DeFi bridge exploit on record in mid-May 2022, which totaled $625 million.

Four years ago, Ronin launched as a sidechain because Axie Infinity needed a faster and more efficient network. “It worked.

The transition is to the OP Stack and a new Proof of Distribution model. Transitioning to the OP Stack will allow Ronin to inherit Ethereum’s security while maintaining high throughput and using EigenDA for data availability. Layer 2 protocols offer tighter links to Ethereum than sidechains, providing greater security.

During the downtime, a Proof of Distribution model will be introduced to reward builders based on active network contribution rather than passive staking. The migration will sharply cut RON token inflation from over 20% to below 1%. “This is bullish for RON as it dramatically cuts token inflation from over 20% to below 1%,” Ronin said.

The move redirects 90 million RON tokens previously earmarked for staking rewards into the Ronin Treasury. 5%. Ronin is the gaming-focused blockchain behind Axie Infinity.

5 million, according to CoinDesk data. RON token price climbed 30% over the last 30 days prior to May 11, 2026. While the token remains below its 2024 peak, the migration announcement drove investor interest in the network's shifting supply dynamics.

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