Ronin Network: A Beginner’s Guide to the Ronin Blockchain

Robert Harris
February 2, 2026
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Ronin Network is an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain built for games and consumer apps. It uses RON as its gas token and is home to Axie Infinity, and its Katana DEX is a decentralized exchange that runs on it. Until May 2026 Ronin ran as a standalone chain. This guide was updated in October 2026 and checked against Ronin’s own blog, documentation and website.

Updated October 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Ronin is an Ethereum Layer-2 built on the OP Stack. It moved there from its own standalone chain in May 2026.
  • RON is still the gas token. You need a little of it to pay for transactions.
  • Ronin says there is currently no way to stake RON and earn rewards. New RON now goes to builders through Proof of Distribution.
  • Katana DEX is an app on Ronin. It is not the same thing as Katana Network, a separate chain with the KAT token.
  • Old guides that mention validator staking or Ronin as a sidechain are out of date.

What is Ronin Network?

Ronin is a blockchain for games and consumer apps. Ronin’s documentation describes it as “an Ethereum L2 built for gamified experiences and real-world crypto adoption”. Its website calls it “the blockchain for fun and practical blockchain applications”.

You hold assets in a Ronin Wallet and pay for transactions in RON.

People also search for it as “Ronin blockchain”, “Ronin chain” and “what is Ronin crypto”. They all mean the same network.

What changed when Ronin became an Ethereum Layer-2?

Ronin used to be its own chain, secured by its own validators. In its “Ronin is Home” announcement, dated May 13, 2026, Ronin said it had moved to an Ethereum Layer-2 on the OP Stack. A Layer-2 is a chain that runs next to Ethereum and relies on it for security.

Before May 2026 Now
Type of chain Standalone chain (sidechain) Ethereum Layer-2 on the OP Stack
Gas token RON RON
RON emissions 45 million RON a year 5 million RON a year
Staking RON for rewards Validator staking Not available
Who earns new RON Validators and stakers Builders, through Proof of Distribution

Ronin’s announcement states: “There’s currently no way to stake your RON and earn rewards.” It also says “Ronin will continue to use RON for gas”.

The announcement adds that net sequencer profits, meaning gas revenue minus the costs of posting data to Ethereum, go to the Ronin treasury. It also says AXS, SLP and PIXEL are unchanged, and holders did not need to take any action.

What is Proof of Distribution?

Proof of Distribution, or PoD, is Ronin’s reward system for builders. Ronin’s docs say projects earn RON based on on-chain activity. Each epoch, a Builder Score is calculated from the smart contracts a project has registered, and RON is paid out according to that score.

Only registered contracts count. Activity from contracts a project has not registered earns nothing. In short, the old model paid people for locking up RON, and the new model pays teams for building things people use.

What is Ronin used for?

Ronin was made specifically as a sidechain to support Axie Infinity, according to TechCrunch’s 2022 coverage. Sky Mavis is the parent company of Axie Infinity. Today Ronin’s website describes a wider ecosystem with a marketplace, a wallet and a launchpad, and lists games such as Pixels, Fableborne and Angry Dynomites.

  • Games: in-game items and tokens that live on the chain.
  • Marketplace: NFT trading at marketplace.roninchain.com.
  • Swapping tokens: done through Katana DEX, an exchange on Ronin.
  • Bridging: moving assets from Ethereum onto Ronin through the Ronin Bridge.

For the exchange itself, read our guide to Katana DEX.

Is Ronin the same as Katana Network?

No. Ronin is the chain. Katana DEX is an exchange that runs on Ronin. Katana Network is a different project with a similar name, and many searches for “katana network” and “katana ronin” come from this mix-up.

Ronin and Katana DEX Katana Network
What it is An Ethereum Layer-2 for games and apps, with an exchange on top An Ethereum Layer-2 built for DeFi
Chain ID 2020 747474
Token RON KAT
Website roninchain.com katana.network
App Not covered here app.katana.network
Listed backers Not covered here Incubated by Polygon Labs and GSR

If you wanted to swap tokens on Ronin, you are in the right place. If you wanted the KAT chain, go to katana.network. Katana.so is an independent guide and does not run either one.

How do I start using Ronin?

  1. Install the Ronin Wallet. The docs say to download the app for iOS or Android and sign in.
  2. Get some RON. The docs list centralized exchanges, on-ramp partners and bridges as ways to do it. Our guide on how to buy RON walks through the options.
  3. Move assets onto Ronin if they are on another chain. The docs name the Ronin Bridge for moving assets from Ethereum.
  4. Connect your wallet to an app, such as Katana DEX.
  5. Keep a small RON balance for gas.

Always type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Fake wallet and swap pages are a common way to drain wallets.

What is the RON token?

RON is the native token of Ronin. Ronin’s docs say its maximum supply is 1,000,000,000. The token pays gas fees, and the docs list wallets, exchanges and bridges as the ways to get it.

These figures were on CoinGecko on October 21, 2026:

Metric Figure
Price $0.05919
Market cap $45.7 million
Circulating supply 772.4 million RON
Max supply 1 billion RON

Prices change every minute, so treat this as a snapshot and not as advice. To find the official token address, see our page on the RON token contract address.

What are the technical settings for Ronin?

Developers and wallet users sometimes need the network details. Ronin’s docs list these for Ronin mainnet:

  • Network name: Ronin mainnet
  • Chain ID: 2020
  • RPC URL: https://api.roninchain.com/rpc
  • Currency symbol: RON
  • Consensus: OP Stack

Ronin’s announcement also says a new block explorer is at explorer.roninchain.com, and that the legacy explorer at app.roninchain.com was sunset.

What happened in the 2022 Ronin hack?

In March 2022 attackers drained the Ronin Bridge, the link between Ronin and Ethereum. TechCrunch reported that 173,600 ETH, about $597 million at the time, and $25.5 million in USDC were taken. The theft happened on March 23, 2022 and was not discovered until March 29.

Ronin is a different system today. It is now an Ethereum Layer-2 and no longer relies on its old validator set. Still, the event is why bridge safety remains a standard question for any chain.

Can you earn rewards on Ronin now?

Not by staking RON. Ronin says that option does not currently exist. Builders can earn through Proof of Distribution, and users can still swap tokens on Katana DEX. Our guide to farming on Ronin covers earning options on Ronin, which carry risk.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Following a guide that tells you to stake RON with validators. Ronin says staking is not currently available.
  • Mixing up Ronin, Katana DEX and Katana Network, then sending funds to the wrong chain.
  • Using a link from an ad or message instead of going to the site yourself.
  • Holding no RON, which leaves you unable to pay gas.
  • Treating a token price snapshot as a forecast.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ronin Network?

Ronin Network is an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain for games and consumer apps, built on the OP Stack. Axie Infinity is its best-known game, and RON is its gas token.

Is Ronin an Ethereum Layer-2?

Yes. Ronin announced on May 13, 2026 that it had become an Ethereum Layer-2 on the OP Stack. Before that it ran as a standalone chain.

Can I stake RON?

Not at the moment. Ronin states: “There’s currently no way to stake your RON and earn rewards.” New RON emissions go to builders through Proof of Distribution.

Is Katana DEX the same as Katana Network?

No. Katana DEX is an exchange on Ronin. Katana Network is a separate Ethereum Layer-2 for DeFi with the KAT token and its own app at app.katana.network.

What is the Ronin chain ID?

Ronin mainnet uses chain ID 2020, the RPC URL https://api.roninchain.com/rpc, and RON as the currency symbol, according to Ronin’s developer docs.

What is RON used for?

RON pays gas fees on Ronin. Ronin’s website also says it is used for rewards. Its maximum supply is 1 billion.

Sources

Related reading

Author Robert Harris

Robert Harris is a crypto and DeFi writer at Katana.so, covering Ethereum Layer-2 networks, token markets, and on-chain yield. He turns complex protocol mechanics into clear, risk-aware guides for everyday investors.