TL;DR

In Optimism, governance is exploring new ways to allocate blockspace, including a proposed experiment that introduces stake-based transaction prioritization to understand better how incentives affect network usage and efficiency.

In Arbitrum, the focus is on formalizing governance and refining operations. The DAO has rolled out its Code of Conduct and Procedures and is reassessing ecosystem programs, discontinuing Firestarters after a limited impact.

In ZKsync, governance reflects a shift toward a more mature and institution-focused phase. Changes to the Security Council structure, progress on Prividium, and strong early traction in content programs point to a broader move toward scalability and narrative alignment.

Elsewhere, Starknet is working toward more predictable fee mechanics through dynamic pricing, while Scroll and Everclear are adjusting their operational footprint, signaling a trend toward leaner DAO structures and more focused resource allocation.

Optimism

Optimism Proposes Stake-Based Transaction Priority Experiment

Ben Jones created a proposal outlining an experiment to introduce stake-based priority ordering on OP Mainnet, in which users staking OP tokens could receive preferential transaction inclusion.

The proposal outlines a two-phase test, starting with FIFO ordering among participants and later moving to stake-weighted prioritization, aiming to study how this model affects blockspace usage, spam, and arbitrage behavior. The experiment is designed to be temporary and reversible, with OP Mainnet returning to its standard ordering mechanism after completion, while generating data to inform future decisions around blockspace allocation and token utility.

Arbitrum

Arbitrum DAO Code of Conduct Goes Live

The Arbitrum DAO has officially published its Code of Conduct, following its approval on April 2, 2026, establishing a formal framework for contributor behavior and governance standards.

The document outlines expectations around transparency, accountability, and professionalism, including guidelines on conflicts of interest, participation, and communication. It also defines enforcement mechanisms in which violations are handled at the program level and assigns OpCo a central role in conflict resolution as a neutral mediator.

Arbitrum DAO Procedures Formalized Following Governance Approval

The Arbitrum DAO has officially published its updated governance procedures, approved on April 2, 2026, establishing clearer operational guidelines for voting, elections, and DAO processes.

The framework introduces standardized practices, including a predictable voting schedule, minimum discussion periods, and clearer rules for elections and initiative management. It also defines default processes for member replacement and initiative cancellation, while incorporating recent governance changes, such as the DVP quorum.

Firestarters Quarterly Retrospective Report

OpCo published the retrospective of the Firestarters pilot program, which concluded after its three-month trial period with less than half of its $50k budget deployed.

While the program was considered operationally efficient and transparent, it ultimately failed to generate meaningful ecosystem impact, with none of the funded initiatives evolving into full DAO programs. As a result, OpCo decided not to continue Firestarters in its current form, shifting instead to a more selective, ad hoc grant approach when specific needs arise.

ZKsync

[ZIP-15] Update ZKsync Security Council Parameters

ZKsync Security Council created a proposal to update its structure, reducing the number of signers from 12 to 8 and lowering compensation to $3k per month per member.

The proposal removes four individual members, transitioning the council to an entity-only composition, and adjusts signing thresholds to reflect the smaller group while preserving overall security standards. These changes are intended to align the Security Council with ZKsync’s current stage, as the protocol shifts from an intensive development phase to a more stable, product-focused environment with a lower expected upgrade frequency.

Matter Labs | Q1 2026 Deliverables Report

Matter Labs published a report outlining its Q1 2026 progress, highlighting a shift from protocol infrastructure to institutional deployments, with a strong focus on its Prividium stack.

The update covers the launch of the Prividium mainnet, partnerships such as the Cari Network with five U.S. banks, and continued work on interoperability (v31 upgrade). It also includes progress on governance and token utility through the staking pilot, as well as the scheduled shutdown of ZKsync Lite on May 4, 2026.

Mid-Report: ZK Stack Content Program (Community Activation RFP 2 Extension)

0xmadmaxx.eth published a mid-report that outlines the first month of the ZK Stack Content Program extension, highlighting early traction in content production and engagement.

During the initial four weeks, the program generated over 500k views and exceeded most of its predefined engagement targets, with contributors consistently producing narrative-aligned content around key themes such as Prividium, ZK technology, and ecosystem developments. Overall, the report points to strong early momentum, with a mix of educational content and viral formats driving visibility as the program progresses through its 13-week duration.

Starknet

SNIP 35 - Automatically adjust base fee to STRK price

Ohad Barta from StarkWare created a proposal that outlines a new fee mechanism for Starknet, where the base fee would automatically adjust based on the STRK/USD price instead of relying on manual updates.

The proposal aims to keep fees more stable in USD terms, making costs more predictable for users and revenue more consistent for sequencers as STRK’s price moves. It would introduce a dynamic base fee floor that updates over time using price data, while preserving Starknet’s existing congestion-based fee model.

Everclear

Community Leadership Program 2026 H1 Update

The Community Leadership Incentivization proposal aimed to support Everclear’s community operations through dedicated leads and funding for H1 2026. However, recent updates suggest the initiative may not continue as planned.

The allocated funding for the subDAO multisig ran out on April 4, leading both Community Leads to step down from their roles. Alongside this, they recommended shutting down the Discord server due to prolonged inactivity, noting that most community engagement has already shifted to Telegram. The DAO is now being asked to provide feedback on whether to proceed with the shutdown, while also considering risks such as the loss of the server’s vanity link and potential misuse if it is not maintained.

Scroll

Juansito created a governance update outlining operational changes for Scroll DAO, including the proposed dissolution of the Security Council and a transition of protocol control to a Scroll-managed admin multisig.

The update also includes the conclusion of several contributor roles by the end of April and a reduction in the operational scope of key committees, reflecting lower current activity levels. While governance structures remain in place, the DAO is shifting toward a leaner setup, with the expectation that activity can scale back up as the ecosystem grows.

Quiet Corner

Some ecosystems saw no meaningful governance developments this week.

• Everclear
• Wormhole
• Uniswap
• Hop
• Lisk
• Polygon

As always, if we missed something important, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to dig deeper.

Upcoming Events

Arbitrum

• Entropy Advisors - biweekly office hours - on 21.04 at 17:15 UTC.

Scroll

• Weekly DAO & Governance Call - on 22.04 at 14:00 UTC.

Optimism

• Grants Council Office Hours - on 21.04 at 16:30 UTC.

Everclear

• Everclear Delegates Call - on 23.04 at 14:00 UTC.

Discuss with L2BEAT

Join us every Friday at 3 pm UTC for our weekly Governance Office Hours to discuss proposals, ecosystem direction, and high-level governance strategy.