Lighter Launches EVM Devnet With 1-Second Blocks

Lighter has launched an EVM development network with one-second blocks that lets smart contracts manage trading orders, according to CryptoNews. Axiom built the network with Lighter and announced the release in an Oct. 16 post by Yi Sun, detailing an Ethereum-compatible environment connected to Lighter's perpetual futures and spot markets.

Network Architecture and Limits

The devnet uses test markets and a private settlement chain. According to Axiom, the release contains new instances of Lighter EVM and Lighter Core, the exchange's order-matching and risk engine. The Core instance operates its own test markets, giving developers an order book against which to build and check applications. Lighter's developer documentation specifies that a privately deployed chain stands in for Ethereum as the settlement and data-availability layer.

The documentation lists three current limitations, including the use of mocked ZK proofs for L1 finalization and a permissionless escape hatch that remains partly functional. Additionally, requests that read Core data work only at the latest block, with support for reading earlier blocks planned for a future update.

Smart Contract Integration

Axiom stated that contracts can read Lighter Core information synchronously through a read precompile supporting accounts, balances, positions, orders, and market information. Trading instructions follow an asynchronous write process where contracts can place, modify, and cancel orders on Core, executing in seconds.

The network supports the standard Ethereum JSON-RPC interface, allowing teams to use Foundry, Hardhat, Viem, and Ethers. The devnet targets the EVM at the Fusaka BPO2 fork, uses ETH to pay gas fees, and features a maximum block gas limit of 17 million.

Key facts

• Lighter launched an EVM devnet featuring one-second blocks and smart contract order management.
• Axiom and Lighter built the network, announcing it in an Oct. 16 post by Yi Sun.
• The devnet runs on a private L1 settlement chain and uses mocked ZK proofs for L1 finalization.
• Smart contracts can read Lighter Core data synchronously and submit trading orders asynchronously.