Solana-based DeFi protocol Zebec is launching its own blockchain called Zebec Chain, a universal layer 2 roll-up. With this layer 2, Zebec aims to provide a solid foundation for the future of the Web3 payment infrastructure.

Zebec Launching a “Universal” Layer 2 Chain
Zebec Launching a “Universal” Layer 2 Chain to Build the Future of Web3 Payments Pixabay

Roll-ups help blockchains scale by increasing a chain's throughput, allowing dApps to handle more transactions in a given time frame.

While the cryptocurrency space has enough Layer 1s to last a lifetime, Zebec Chain sets itself apart from others because it isn't just another generic L1 chain but a universal layer 2 chain.

Zebec Chain is a modular, zk-rollup chain designed for 100,000+ transactions per second (TPS) without outages. The chain will provide an interoperable zk-rollup scaling solution compatible with multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos, and Aptos. Meanwhile, using zero-knowledge technology will allow Zebec Chain to offer the same level of privacy as Zcash to traditional financial systems.

Instead of starting with a chain and building an ecosystem around it, Zebec is building a chain for its active and vibrant ecosystem.

Zebec Protocol launched in March 2022, and in 6 months, it made more than 250 business partners on the Solana Chain. During that time, Zebec became one of the largest business-facing protocols on Solana and managed to turn a profit, even in a bear market.

The protocol achieved this by inventing the concept of payment streaming, a tax-compliant system of real-time payments, and then adding multisig vaults and token distribution functionality.

The network is powered by ZBC, an SPL token compliant with the Solana network, which is currently trading at $0.016, down about 69% from its all-time high hit earlier this year.

Zebec is backed by some of the most prominent names in the crypto sector, including Solana Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Circle, Gemini, OKX Blockdream Ventures, and Republic Capital.

A Unique Position

Zebec is built on the popular Solana blockchain, which suffered several significant outages this year, causing trouble for traders and business partners that relied on Zebec Protocol. According to the Zebec team, Web3 can't replace traditional financial systems if it isn't more reliable than Web2.

This led to the introduction of the Zebec Chain, whose modular design means an outage on one chain doesn't affect the operations on the other. By providing a universal Layer 2 solution, Zebec aims to help solve the critical problems of the blockchain world; scalability, interoperability, and even privacy in a single system.

By choosing the L1 chain for consensus, developers will be able to balance decentralization with throughput based on their needs by deploying a roll-up for their dApp using Zebec Chain's universal L2.

Zebec Chain will start with Cosmos L1 SDK for consensus, making it immediately interoperable with IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol) chains. And by working with the Eclipse protocol, Solana's VM will be compatible with IBC chains, combining the throughput and interoperability for each.

Eclipse is a customizable roll-up provider that enables developers to deploy their own roll-up powered by the Solana operating system, using any chain for security or data storage. Late last quarter, the ambitious blockchain scaling project raised $15 million in pre-seed and seed funding at a nine-figure valuation. It has partnered with several ecosystems, including Polygon, NEAR, Celestia, EigenLayer, Oasis Labs, and Cosmos.

Right from its launch, the Zebec Chain will have a thriving ecosystem of dApps, including DeFi projects, GameFi projects, NFTs, and payment solutions, thanks to hundreds of partners it supports on Solana and now on BNB Chain.

Additionally, Zebec has partnered with Visa to launch a debit card that lets holders pay for everyday purchases with their crypto. They have also acquired payment companies in Web2 and are looking to buy more to expand their user base.

Operation Horizon has further built into a growing community of Zepoch NFT holders that will back Zebec Chain and be "instrumental" in supporting the project and its future governance.

Built for scalability, security, and reliability, with Zebec Chain, Zebec protocol aims to pave the way for millions of more users to be integrated into Web3 from Web2.