ZKcandy Launches Mainnet With 2.46 Million Wallets Created

ZKcandy, a new Ethereum scaling network focused on mobile gaming, has launched its mainnet following a successful testnet phase that saw the creation of 2.46 million wallets. The network, co-created by Southeast Asia-based game developer iCandy Interactive and ZKsync developer Matter Labs, utilizes Matter Labs' Ethereum layer-2 scaling technology. The mainnet launch follows a $4 million seed round led by Wemix and Animoca Ventures.

With the mainnet launch, eight games are now available to play, including Pepe Kingdom, Sugar Rush, and Candy Defense. ZKcandy is designed to integrate blockchain with AI to enhance gaming features such as dynamic storylines and unique non-player characters. The platform aims to provide a mobile-first Web3 experience with ultra-low fees for both gamers and developers, true asset ownership across interoperable titles, and AI-powered non-player characters and unscripted storytelling.

ZKcandy's CEO, Kin Wai Lau, expressed pride in the network's launch, highlighting the success of the testnet phase and the platform's goal to make blockchain gaming open and accessible to everyone. The platform plans to allocate 5% of its native token supply for promotional campaigns and will launch a grant program for developers. ZKcandy is part of the Elastic Chain, which includes other interoperable ZKsync-powered layer-2 networks such as Abstract and Cronos.

During the open testnet phase, ZKcandy amassed 230,000 active users across five games, positioning it as one of the most well-received ZK Chains in ZKsync’s Elastic Network ecosystem. The platform has collaborated with partners such as Layer3, Aethir, Rarible, and Out Of The Nest, onboarding a total of 19 partners to grow its ecosystem. Following the mainnet launch, gamers will have access to eight Web3 games, with plans to expand to 2 million active ecosystem users within six months of its public launch.

ZKcandy leverages iCandy Interactive’s expertise in developing over 500 mobile games and ZKsync’s low fees and account abstraction to position itself as a mobile-first Web3 gaming hub. The platform aims to capitalize on the growth of the global mobile gaming market by creating immersive, interoperable gaming ecosystems where users own their assets and can move them freely across different titles. ZKcandy is powered by ZKsync, an Ethereum L2 ecosystem that advances the mass adoption of crypto through ZK-proof technologies, ensuring fast transactions, negligible fees, and top-notch account abstraction features.

To encourage ecosystem growth after the mainnet deployment, ZKcandy will launch promotional campaigns on the Layer3 launchpad. The platform has allocated 5% of the total native token supply as a monetary stimulus for participants. Developers will also be able to submit applications for the upcoming ZKcandy grant. ZKcandy is an AI-powered Layer-2 aiming to redefine what’s possible in gaming and entertainment, focusing on building immersive gaming ecosystems where players can make the most of today’s AI capabilities. The platform is backed by iCandy Interactive, with over 500 games, including 180 AAA titles, downloaded over 300 million times. With $4 million in funding and strategic partnerships, ZKcandy is set to push the boundaries in Web3 entertainment, inspired by the AI revolution.