Since its launch in June 2025, Kadena’s Chainweb EVM has progressed with its public testnet section, boasting integrations from over 50 initiatives and a $50 million grant program supporting growth.
Kadena Chainweb EVM serves as an Ethereum Digital Machine (EVM)-compatible execution layer on the Chainweb protocol, a Layer 1 Proof-of-Work blockchain. In accordance with Kadena’s documentation, it addresses scalability challenges in Ethereum by enabling Solidity builders to deploy functions with out adjustments. This positions Chainweb EVM as a decentralized choice in comparison with Ethereum Layer 2 options, which frequently contain trade-offs in centralization.
Whereas some blockchain protocols deal with excessive transaction volumes however face congestion and excessive charges, Chainweb EVM makes use of parallel chains to extend throughput. Kadena, operational since 2016, integrates this with its current community of 20 chains, increasing to a complete of 25 chains. This setup helps energy-efficient Proof-of-Work safety whereas permitting Ethereum-compatible instruments. The relevance lies in offering builders with another for constructing decentralized functions in areas like Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and real-world asset tokenization, with out counting on rollups.
What are the Core Options of Chainweb EVM?
Chainweb EVM consists of a number of technical parts designed for scalability and compatibility.
Parallel Chain Structure: The system operates on 5 devoted EVM chains, permitting for infinite scalability by way of the addition of additional chains. This construction processes transactions in parallel, decreasing bottlenecks seen in single-chain networks. This characteristic stems from Chainweb’s braided chain design, the place chains validate one another, enhancing safety with out compromising pace. Builders can deploy contracts throughout chains, leveraging cross-chain communication for complicated functions.
Close to-Zero Gasoline Charges: Transactions incur minimal prices because of the environment friendly Proof-of-Work consensus and parallel processing. Not like Ethereum’s variable charges, Chainweb EVM maintains low bills even below load. The price construction helps high-volume use circumstances, comparable to frequent trades in decentralized exchanges, by distributing computation throughout chains.
EVM Compatibility: Full assist for Solidity and Ethereum instruments permits direct porting of functions. This consists of integration with wallets like MetaMask and growth environments like Hardhat. Compatibility extends to requirements like ERC-20 and ERC-721, facilitating token transfers and non-fungible token operations with out rewrites.
Power-Environment friendly Proof-of-Work: Chainweb makes use of a variant of Proof-of-Work that consumes much less power than conventional fashions, whereas preserving decentralization. This effectivity stems from the protocol’s design, which distributes mining efforts throughout a number of chains, thereby decreasing general computational waste.
These options collectively allow Chainweb EVM to deal with Ethereum workloads on a extra scalable foundation, interesting to builders in search of Proof-of-Work safety in an EVM context.
Testnet Standing and Milestones
Chainweb EVM launched within the public testnet in June 2025. The testnet expanded Kadena’s community to 25 chains, with EVM performance on chains 20-24. Over 200 builders and 50 initiatives have engaged, deploying functions and testing integrations.
Milestones started with the April 2025 announcement, highlighting EVM on a scalable Proof-of-Work community. In June, the testnet went stay at EthCC in Cannes, accompanied by a developer portal providing open-source instruments, a KDA faucet, and documentation. Chain 20 reached over 1,000 transactions and 50,000 blocks quickly after.
A Q2 2025 overview confirmed compatibility with Ethereum instruments. Most just lately, in August, the mission hosted a workshop at ETH Vietnam for Solidity builders and supplied ongoing incentives, together with DeFi Legends Week 7, which distributed 6,000 KDA for buying and selling quantity.
A cupboard ballot (CAB-4) handed to fund a Developer Advocate Program, supporting neighborhood development. The testnet options block explorers and wallets comparable to eckoWALLET, Linx, Koala, Zelcore, and Chainweaver.
Protocols Built-in on the Testnet
A number of protocols have been deployed on Chainweb EVM testnet, specializing in decentralized finance and interoperability.
Uniswap v3: built-in in July 2025, gives concentrated liquidity and automatic market makers with sub-cent charges throughout parallel chains. This deployment allows environment friendly token swaps, drawing liquidity to Kadena’s ecosystem.
Morpho: Launched permissionless lending infrastructure in July, supporting capital-efficient borrowing and lending. Morpho’s setup permits customers to optimize yields in a low-fee setting.
Oku: Launched a unified interface for buying and selling on Uniswap v3 and lending on Morpho, probably accessing $9 billion in decentralized finance liquidity for KDA. Oku’s instruments embody superior order varieties and analytics.
VIA Labs: Added cross-chain bridges in July, connecting to over 135 blockchains and supporting property comparable to USDT, USDC, and WDAI. This facilitates asset transfers, enhancing interoperability.
Relend Community: Enabled rUSDC provide for Proof-of-Work DeFi, bootstrapping cash markets with Ethereum liquidity. Relend focuses on stablecoin lending protocols.
DIA Oracles: Went stay in July, delivering trustless value feeds for lending, derivatives, and stablecoins. DIA’s oracles guarantee correct knowledge for monetary functions.
Morkie: Launched a multi-chain Non-Fungible Token (NFT) platform for minting, staking, and incomes with near-zero charges. Morkie helps artistic property on the testnet.
Accrued Finance: Deployed an omnichain liquid staking and lending protocol in August, permitting KDA staking with boosted rewards and leverage. This protocol integrates staking mechanics with low-cost transactions.
Stork: Added modular oracles for perpetual decentralized exchanges. Stork gives knowledge for derivatives buying and selling.
Different integrations embody Euler Finance, Dexalot, and Gearbox. Total, these integrations exhibit Chainweb EVM’s capability for internet hosting various functions, with a $50 million grant program allocating $25 million to EVM initiatives in decentralized finance and real-world property.
Future Plans for Mainnet and Past
Kadena plans to advance Chainweb EVM towards the mainnet, constructing on suggestions from the testnet. The grant program will proceed funding initiatives in decentralized finance, real-world property, and synthetic intelligence. Group efforts, together with the Developer Advocate Program, purpose to broaden developer assist.
Ongoing incentives and occasions, like workshops, will drive adoption. The main focus stays on onboarding extra functions and rising liquidity by way of integrations.
Within the meantime, the protocol has but to announce the precise date for the Chainweb EVM mainnet. For now, growth prioritizes testnet stability and integrations, with progress indicating a possible rollout as soon as milestones are met.
Conclusion
Chainweb EVM’s public testnet has achieved integrations with greater than 50 initiatives, together with protocols comparable to Uniswap v3 for liquidity provision, Morpho for lending, and DIA Oracles for value feeds.
Moreover, neighborhood initiatives, together with workshops at occasions like ETH Vietnam and incentives like DeFi Legends Week, have engaged over 200 builders. Whereas no mainnet launch date has been introduced, the progress in testnet stability and ecosystem development builds anticipation for its deployment within the close to future, increasing Kadena’s capabilities for Ethereum-compatible functions on a scalable Proof-of-Work community.
Sources:
- Kadena Official Documentation: docs.kadena.io/guides/nodes/evm-devnet
- Kadena ChainWeb EVM: https://decrypt.co/313142/kadena-solves-ethereum-scalability-with-chainweb-evm
- Kadena EVM Testnet Launch Particulars: https://blockworks.co/information/kadena-ethereum-devs-l1
