Lighter Unveils New EVM Development Network
Lighter has unveiled a new EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) development network featuring impressively quick one-second block times. This innovative platform allows smart contracts to handle trading orders, albeit with certain limitations outlined in its developer documentation. Notably, these limitations include the use of mocked proofs and an asset-recovery mechanism that is not yet fully operational within this testing environment.
Announcement and Access
In a blog post dated October 16, Yi Sun of Axiom, the company behind the network’s development, announced the launch of this Ethereum-compatible environment linked to both perpetual futures and spot markets on Lighter. Although the developer interface is publicly accessible, interested teams must request access to the network, with entry being granted in batches.
New Versions and Features
Axiom has introduced new versions of the Lighter EVM and Lighter Core through this release. The Lighter Core is responsible for the order-matching and risk management aspect of the exchange and operates its own test markets, providing developers with an order book for building and testing their applications. The release culminates in a development-level Layer 1 (L1) instance, which serves as a substitute for Ethereum in terms of settlement and data availability, according to Lighter’s documentation.
Current Challenges and Architecture
The documentation points out some current challenges within the devnet: it indicates that the development version utilizes simulated zero-knowledge proofs for finalizing Layer 1 transactions. Additionally, a feature designed to allow users to recover assets during processing failures is currently non-functional in this test environment.
Axiom’s announcement detailed a distinct settlement architecture wherein OpenVM facilitates the verification of transactions executed on Lighter EVM. Meanwhile, Lighter Core continues to use its proprietary zero-knowledge circuits. OpenVM’s system streamlines the verification process on Ethereum by aggregating proofs from both environments into a single proof.
Data Management and Developer Interaction
To optimize data management on Ethereum, both rollups employ records of state changes, minimizing the data volume required for publication. The framework also mentions an escape hatch for asset recovery in the event of failures involving sequencers or provers, although this feature is constrained by limitations noted in Lighter’s documentation.
Developers can interact with Lighter Core data in real time via a built-in interface termed a read precompile, allowing them to execute queries about accounts, balances, orders, positions, and market data with immediate effect. However, placing, modifying, and canceling orders involves asynchronous processes that Axiom claims are executed within seconds. These orders can then be tracked through the precompile interface.
Asset Transfers and Potential Applications
The established connection also permits asset transfers between the two Lighter environments, with developers able to deposit from the L1 development instance, shift assets across environments, and withdraw to L1.
The potential applications for this new ecosystem are wide-ranging, with concepts such as fast funding services, vaults, and request-for-quote platforms highlighted as possible creations leveraging the connections to Core. This capability will allow for market information retrieval, trading order transmissions, and asset moves.
Development Compatibility and Chain Configuration
For development purposes, the network is compatible with the standard Ethereum JSON-RPC interface. Developers can utilize popular tools like Foundry, Hardhat, Viem, and Ethers. The devnet, operating on the Fusaka BPO2 fork, utilizes ETH for transaction fees and has a block gas limit set at 17 million.
A detailed description of the chain configuration reveals a uniform one-second block time and the same gas limit. Unique identifiers are allocated for both EVM and Core transactions, with Core signifying transactions specifically aimed at the latter. Lighter assigns chain ID 19,529 for EVM and 300 for Core at the development stage. Beyond protocol-owned contracts that manage fees and token transfers, third-party contracts such as Safe wallet contracts, Multicall3, and Permit2 were integrated at the launch to ease developers’ work.
Market Activity and Future Plans
Notably, Lighter provides the underlying perpetual futures structure utilized by Robinhood Wallet, as reported in previous coverage. Earlier reports indicated that Lighter, which was founded by Vladimir Novakovski in 2022, had received significant venture backing, including a $68 million investment from Robinhood Ventures at a valuation nearing $1.5 billion by November 2025. According to earlier accounts, however, certain jurisdictions, including the United States and various others, had restricted access to perpetual futures through Robinhood Wallet.
In related updates, data released on October 9 indicated a seven-day trading volume of approximately $7.35 billion for Lighter’s perpetual futures, reflecting a notable growth of 26%. This activity came to light just before the announcement of the EVM development network.
Access and Feedback
Axiom has made the public documentation and bridge-contract code available on GitHub for easy access. Interested teams can request devnet access via email at devnet@lighter.com, and feedback is encouraged through Lighter’s EVM Discord channel. Axiom mentioned that the onboarding of developers will occur in groups in order to address issues promptly, with broader access planned for all developers in the near future.
