Lighter debuts EVM devnet with one-second block times

The new network enables developers to build decentralized applications capable of interacting with Lighter Core, the exchange’s proprietary order-matching and risk engine. Through a built-in read precompile, smart contracts can synchronously query account balances, active positions, and market data. Trading instructions, including order placement and modification, are processed via asynchronous writes, allowing for programmatic execution within the one-second block window.

Technical documentation highlights several constraints inherent to the current devnet release. The environment utilizes mocked zero-knowledge proofs for L1 finalization and features a partially functional permissionless asset-recovery mechanism. Furthermore, while developers can submit trading orders and move assets between Lighter EVM and Core, support for reading historical block data is slated for future updates. Axiom noted that the architecture relies on OpenVM to aggregate proofs from both environments, which are then verified on Ethereum.

The network supports standard Ethereum JSON-RPC interfaces, ensuring compatibility with common tooling like Foundry, Hardhat, and Viem. With a block gas limit of 17 million and a dedicated EVM chain ID of 19,529, the platform is designed to host services such as automated vaults and request-for-quote platforms. While the devnet is currently gated to manage feedback, the team intends to expand access to all developers in the coming weeks.