Linea, the Ethereum Layer-2 network incubated by ConsenSys, announced the creation of a nonprofit governance organization, the Linea Association, with plans to introduce a network token in early 2025. The new Switzerland-based association aims to support Linea’s development and decentralization while promoting community-driven growth. The upcoming LINEA token will be airdropped to contributors, enabling holders to participate in governance, though specific eligibility criteria and airdrop timing have not yet been disclosed.
The Linea Association will operate under a structured governance model, featuring a board of directors, general assembly, and a multi-tier governance system involving LINEA token holders, who will collectively guide the protocol’s future. According to Linea founder Nicolas Liochon, the association aims to ensure that Linea is a community-owned, decentralized public good similar to Ethereum itself.
Despite these decentralization goals, Linea has faced criticism over centralization concerns. In June, a major hack on a decentralized exchange led Linea’s leadership to halt all on-chain activity, sparking backlash over its ability to unilaterally freeze the network. Nonetheless, ConsenSys touts Linea as the fastest-growing zkEVM network, surpassing 250 million transactions since launching in August 2023.
Today’s announcement aligns with Linea’s broader, multi-step roadmap toward full decentralization, marking the network’s progress on the first of four phases.